Select Announces 2017 Safety Recognition Program Finalists

Tell us about yourself.
“I’m married and have three kids, two boys and a girl. My time off is spent with my kids and wife. They all play sports, so we’re usually at sporting events. If not, we’re at the coast fishing.”

How long have you been with Select?
“I’ve been with Select for six years.”

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far with the company? What are you most proud of?
“Being part of a yard that is going on its fourth year without a reportable incident.”

What is your safety philosophy?
“Build a strong team that will watch out for each other, making sure everyone stays safe.”

When it comes to working in the industry, what is your number one safety MUST? “Communication.”

If you could implement a safety strategy for all to follow, what would it be?
“I work with a small group of 20-50 people. We communicate with each other. We have that relationship to where we watch out for each other. No one has a problem telling somebody, ‘Hey watch out for that …you don’t want to do that, you may get hurt.’ We all have that relationship.

Build a closer relationship with your coworkers.”

Any safety tips for rookies coming into the industry?
“Listen, learn, stay alert, and don’t be scared to ask questions.”

So, what has earned Bryan this nomination?
“I believe in following steps and procedures when executing a task. For me, safety is not as simple as 1-2-3.  I visit my jobs, check if procedures are being followed and known, discuss job steps with employees, etc. I send out group messages when there’s a safety concern, I email bulletins to a small group of the team—who I know—will spread the word, but I’m not sure if that truly makes me a safety leader. I see those things as part of my job.

Here’s a little of what seems to be working for us here in Kenedy:

We really try to build a team. I believe in the power of building relationships in order to form a stronger team. I’m not talking about ‘beers after work’ but just a mutual respect and understanding that I really do care about the people on my team. I listen, I try to understand, and I work as a team member to help solve problems.

Belief and follow-through. These are the things I think make a great safety leader. The team has to know that their leadership, whatever level that may be, believes. If they know you believe, they’ll take the time to stop and make the phone call or ask the question, but it’s not a quick or easy road. I discuss every hazard I see with the team and I let them try to figure it out, giving input when needed. Empowering them and giving them the satisfaction of resolving the situation.

I’ve seen a lot of terrible things in my life and I don’t want to see anymore, especially not to those I’m attached to. Because of that, I believe in doing things safely. I truly believe it is the ‘will’ of the individual, the ‘want’ to do things safe. But if I have to put it into words, I would say believe and care.

You have to believe that the safety of those around you is the most important thing, and I put in the time and effort because I care. If the team can see that, one job visit will be more powerful than daily trips, one hazard mitigated will be remembered longer than multiple orders given, and one safety discussion will be more valuable than a years-worth of lectures.”

Tell us about yourself.
“I’m originally from Wyoming.  I now live in Greeley with my wife and two kids.  I love my job, except during winter.”

How long have you been with Select?
“I have worked for Select since October of 2014.”

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far with the company? What are you most proud of? 
“That’s a tough one.  I would have to say, becoming Select’s main Anadarko flowback supervisor in the DJ Basin is my greatest accomplishment.  I had never worked in the oilfield before coming to Select. Since then, I have been in several safety related situations that required me to think for a second before I reacted, and each time, I’ve managed to make the right decisions.”

What is your safety philosophy?
“My safety philosophy is, ‘No matter what your position is here, your number one responsibility is safety.’”

When it comes to working in the industry, what is your number one safety MUST?
“Communication.  There is no stupid question.  If something doesn’t look or feel right, speak up and ask the question.”

If you could implement a safety strategy for all to follow, what would it be?
“I would like to see more safety talked about during hand-overs.  When I go off hitch and turn my pad over to the next supervisor, we always talk about what’s happening on location.  Very seldom does anyone bring up any safety concerns or any observations they made while they were on pad.  This would help the incoming crew be more aware of any safety concerns the outgoing crew had or saw.”

Any safety tips for rookies coming into the industry?
“Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions.  I love it when my new guys are bombarding me with questions.  It means they are being observant about what’s around them; they are thinking.”

So, what has earned Jeremiah this nomination?
“I conducted ‘tailgate meetings’ on a regular basis.  Every time our task changed, for whatever reason and whether it was an anticipated change or not, we always gathered up. We discussed tasks and how they were to be performed safely.  We discussed things such as communication, order of operations, possible hazards, what to expect, and what to do if something didn’t seem right—which is to shut the job down.

I always encourage questions, I like to know my guys are looking at things around them and thinking. I’ll teach anyone anything they want to know, if I know the answer. If not, I’ll find the answer.”

Tell us about yourself.
“My name is Gustavo Medina. I reside in Gainesville, TX with my wife Lynda, our children, and our grandson. I enjoy spending my time off by the lake with my family.”

How long have you been with Select?
“I have been an employee for almost five years.”

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far with the company? What are you most proud of?
“My greatest accomplishment has been starting off as a laborer and recently being promoted to the operations manager. I’m most proud to be part of a company that’s continuously growing.”

What is your safety philosophy?
“Employees are the most valuable resources. Nothing is more important than their safety.”

When it comes to working in the industry, what is your number one safety MUST?
“Holding employees accountable for wearing their PPE safety gear and for filling out the JSA correctly.”

If you could implement a safety strategy for all to follow, what would it be?
“Recognize hazards and take the appropriate steps to protect yourself and others.”

Any safety tips for rookies coming into the industry?
“Observe the task first and ask as many questions as needed.”

So, what has earned Gustavo this nomination?
“I care not only for myself, but for the safety of my coworkers on a daily basis. I am never afraid to use my Stop Work Authority to shut down an unsafe situation. I also check jobs on a daily basis to ensure all employees have their correct PPE for the task at hand.”

Tell us about yourself.
“I was born in Jourdanton, TX, and grew up around San Antonio. I have been happily married for 17 years and have three children, Johnny-14, Azul-8, and Abril-3. We moved to Gainesville in 2007. That is where my water transfer journey began. I relocated to South Texas in 2010 and have been part of the Laredo team since then. When I am not working I enjoy spending time with my family. I also enjoy hunting and fishing.”

How long have you been with Select?
“10 years.”

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far with the company? What are you most proud of?
“I relocated to South Texas in 2010 with Josh Langston. We hired a team of around 20 guys with no oil field or water transfer experience. We executed jobs without safety incidents or job failures. I believe this is because of the strong safety culture Select has had from day one.”

What is your safety philosophy?
“No job is worth getting hurt for.”

When it comes to working in the industry, what is your number one safety MUST?
“Show up to work fit for duty, stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, and don’t get complacent.”

If you could implement a safety strategy for all to follow, what would it be?
“Assess all hazards prior to starting a job, and always watch for new hazards as the job or day progresses.”

Any safety tips for rookies coming into the industry?
“Ask a lot of questions, don’t do anything that you don’t feel comfortable doing or fully understand.”

So, what has earned Tony this nomination?
“I actively participated in safety meetings and encouraged participation from other employees and colleagues, answering questions and listening to their concerns. I work with my guys one-on-one to show them how to determine if a truck/trailer combination requires a CDL. We are constantly checking trucks and trailers for expired registration and inspection.

I read every stop card that is submitted to me before forwarding it to the safety coordinator and follow up on any issues that are brought to my attention. My guys know that someone cares about their safety and is listening to their concerns. Together we figure out how to mitigate hazards and get the job done safely.

They know they can reach out to me whether they need a dust mask or a day off because they are too tired to drive. I also know that Roger Velez, Jimmy Rankin, and Craig Fric are available to help me with anything I need 24/7.”

Tell us about yourself.
“I’m from Truth or Consequences, NM, and came to Carlsbad, NM, for work. I’m married to a beautiful redhead, who is an eighth-grade science teacher. I’ve been happily married for 20 years. My hobbies include rappelling and rock climbing. I love to play instruments and play with my remote-controlled vehicles.”

How long have you been with Select?
“I come from GRR, who merged with Select in the spring of 2017. I have been with the company for almost eight years.”

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far with the company? What are you most proud of?
“My greatest accomplishment within the company has been helping create a culture of ‘World Class Service’ by doing the very best at everything we do. Being safe in every aspect of the job. Being willing to do whatever needs to be done, filling the gaps that need to be filled. Along the way, treating the company just as I would if I had ownership.”

What is your safety philosophy?
“Where do you separate doing something right and doing something safe? To me, they go hand in hand. Safety can’t be just something that you do at work. Safety is a culture— a way of life. It’s a part of who you are, it has to be in your bones. Every single day whether you are at work or at home, you need to be thinking about safety—your safety and the safety of others. It’s a part of who you are, not just something that you do.”

When it comes to working in the industry, what is your number one safety MUST?
“Communication. My number one safety MUST is communication … without communication you’re not safe.”

If you could implement a safety strategy for all to follow, what would it be?
“Always be aware of your environment. Always be aware of everyone, whether you are working directly with them or not. Make sure you lead everyone with safety, be an example. That way people know that if they are working with you, they are going to be expected to be safe in everything they do.”

Any safety tips for rookies coming into the industry?
“Find a person that you can look up to, one that you can turn to for advice. Follow your instinct, if you feel something is unsafe, it probably is unsafe. Never be scared to use Stop Work Authority. Do not be afraid to ask questions.”

So, what has earned Ralph this nomination?
“I realize the importance of being fully aware. I do my best to be an example of safe; my co-workers see me as the ‘safety sheriff.’ This is because I do my best to wear my PPE’s and to be safe in all situations. I’m not afraid to reach out to unsafe employees. I’m the first to make everyone aware of policies and procedures. I believe in practicing what I preach and I set an example by implementing these safety practices within myself. Everyone knows that I do my best to be safe, and I expect everyone else to do the same.

Here are two rules that summarize my beliefs:

1) Be safe in everything you do and others will follow.
2) Whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability.”

Tell us about yourself.
“I have been married to my wife for eight years and have a beautiful seven-year-old daughter, Ashlyn. We lived in Sanger for eight years, before moving to Midland, where we have lived for the last four years. I love to fish, hunt, and spend what little free time I have with my family.”

How long have you been with Select?
“Eleven years”

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far with the company? What are you most proud of?
“I would have to say being part of the Permian team over the last four years. We have been very successful at creating the great safety culture into what it is today.  Being a part of growing the business while holding the highest standards for our service and execution has been a tremendous success.”

What is your safety philosophy?
“Safety 1^st – Safety is as simple as ABC – Always Be Careful”

When it comes to working in the industry, what is your number one safety MUST?
“Everyone MUST do their safety assessment BEFORE starting any work tasks. Safety 1^st.”

If you could implement a safety strategy for all to follow, what would it be?
“A good safety strategy to follow is to ask yourself these questions at the start of your day: How am I going to get back home to the people that depend on my safety? How will I get to work safe? How will I do my job safe? How will I get back home safe?

If getting back home safe is the number one priority, we will put safety first and the job will automatically be done right and safe.”

Any safety tips for rookies coming into the industry?
“The very first thing you will do on any job is a safety assessment. If safety is not the first task on any job, it will be done wrong no matter how much experience someone has. If you see an unsafe act, have the courage to stop work.  Safety 1^st.”

So, what has earned Charles this nomination?
“I am a safety leader each day. If I see an unsafe act, I act on it by correcting the problem and explaining the corrective action to the employee.  I lead employees by example each day, in the yard and field, by doing the safe and correct actions.”