How dangerous is it to work in oil rigsÉ (in Calgary)?

Question

how old do you have to be?

Answer 1

There are no oil rigs directly in Calgary.  The company might have a head office there, but most of the drilling and servicing of the rigs takes place all across the province.  Most companies work on a 14 days on /7 days off schedule. Some have a 21/7 schedule.  During your days on, you basically belong to the company.  You'll be staying in hotels with your crew and working long hours.  You will most likely not be home every night.

There are positives and negatives to working in the oilfield.  The other guy was right about the drug use.  It's rampant.

One of the reasons for this is that most of the guys working rigs are on drugs is because they make good money and have lots of cash to waste.  

Safety is the primary goal for every oil company out there.  As long as you are vigilant about following procedures and policies there is no reason that your job will not be safe.

The company will provide you will all the necessary training and orientation when you start.  

Oh yeah, watch out for bears.

Answer 2

I believe 18, and you need to have some safety certifications.  It is more dangerous than your average job.  You work twelve hour shifts with heavy equipment and your co-workers often do cocaine.  Not many people do it for long.

But I think more roughnecks die in car accidents driving between sites than actually on the rigs.  Doing over a hundred on a gravel road is not the best idea.  Especially when you are not wearing a seatbelt.