The job of a Swamper is a great entrance to the oil and gas industry: they help where they’re needed and perform odd jobs around the work site.

What a typical day looks like:

As a Swamper, each day is different. From the moment they arrive on the job site, Swampers are either assigned to an Operator or to a team, or to a series of duties based on the day’s priorities. One day a Swamper assists with the set-up and pull-down of rigs and equipment and the next day paints equipment for protection from rust and environmental wear and tear. They assist in pre-job planning, equipment preparation, loading, dismantling, unloading and erecting of oil rigs and field equipment.

The only constant in this job is safety. Swampers perform safety and quality inspections of vehicles, equipment and machinery before and after use. They keep the job site clean, orderly and well-maintained. And Swampers make sure they are wearing protective gear and are a safe distance from moving pieces of equipment.

The kinds of problems Swampers solve at work:

While every task a Swamper performs presents its own problems, many of them involve constant physical demands. Swampers work long days, and are required to stand, lift heavy equipment and move items throughout that day. They often work on remote work sites and may be required to work or live away from home for certain periods of time.

On top of the demands on strength and endurance, drilling and service rigs are loud, dirty and dangerous. Swampers need to keep a constant safety mindset to avoid major safety problems.

Skills used most on the job:

A Swamper’s most important skill is being adaptable. They need to be proficient at hands-on work, ready and willing to assist people, and, perhaps above all, ready to learn quickly on the job. It may be an entry-level position, but that also means there’s a lot of room to grow.

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