Is becoming an extraction worker right for me?
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How to become an Extraction Worker
An extraction worker should be comfortable working with dangerous, potentially flammable substances such as oil, coal and natural gas. Those interested in immersion diving need to be in good physical condition and have considerable diving experience before applying for the job.
Extraction workers must be able to remain calm and level-headed in panicked, dangerous emergency situations and should be intimately familiar with the safety hazards and regulations relevant to their current situation. Most extraction workers spend the bulk of their work hours outside, often in very remote and inhospitable locations such as ocean floors, deserts and mountain peaks.
Consequently, ideal applicants to these positions should have no chronic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) that could put them in even more danger. Furthermore, many extraction workers must travel frequently and may be posted at a remote job site for months at a time. This may be a particular concern for workers with spouses and small children.
An extraction worker should also be comfortable using hand tools, have excellent hand-eye coordination and clear vision with excellent depth perception. Many extraction workers must sometimes dismantle equipment, repair it or replace it without outside help. Communication is another vital skill; extraction workers are generally part of a sizeable team that must be coordinated and directed to produce optimum results as safely as possible. The most senior extraction worker must be comfortable giving directions and communicating via radio; consequently, he or she must also have an excellent working knowledge of standardized radio communication protocol. This will allow him or her to communicate precisely and succinctly with the other workers.