Investing in Rig Worker Mental and Physical Health Delivers High ROI, Drilling Contractor Reports
According to Drilling Contractor, Noble Corp Senior Drilling and Well Control Advisor Keeley Bell is calling on operators and drilling companies to treat employee mental and physical health as a core business investment, citing a direct link to safety, efficiency, and operational performance.
The Case for Health Investment in the Field
Bell, a certified mental performance coach with more than 20 years in the drilling sector, shared his message at the IADC Annual General Meeting in September, held in Naples, Florida. His focus: physical discipline as a fast-track method to improving mental performance on the job.
“The toughest battles that we have in our industry are not fought with steel and machinery. The toughest battles we have are fought within the mind of our people, and we are not focusing on it,” Bell said, according to Drilling Contractor.
The numbers support his concern. A 2021 global study commissioned by the International SOS Foundation found that more than half of rotational oil and gas workers reported their mood and mental health suffered while on rotation. Nearly one-third met clinical criteria for depression, and 40% had experienced suicidal thoughts while on rotation. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the suicide rate for US oil and gas extraction workers reached 73.9 per 100,000 workers in 2021, more than double the national average.
Bell’s own turning point came after three heart attacks, which set him on a path connecting physical discipline to mental resilience.
What It Means for Subcontractors
Field service companies, including those operating in remote or rotational environments across the Permian, Gulf Coast, and Bakken, should pay close attention to these findings.
- Workforce performance is tied to health. Bell’s argument that broken people produce costly errors is a direct operational risk for subcontractors managing crews on long rotations. Poor mental health on a wellsite is a safety and liability issue, not just an HR concern.
- Stigma is a barrier. Workers in oil and gas and drilling sectors were more likely than workers in other sectors to believe that seeking mental health support could negatively impact their jobs, according to research cited by Drilling Contractor. Subcontractors who normalize mental health conversations may retain crews longer and reduce incident rates.
- Physical health programs are a practical entry point. Bell frames exercise, sunlight, and adequate sleep as accessible tools to improve mental performance. Subcontractors can implement low-cost wellness policies around crew schedules and accommodations to start moving the needle.
- ROI is real. Companies that invest in crew health can expect measurable returns in reduced errors, lower turnover, and stronger safety records. For subcontractors competing on performance and safety metrics, this is a differentiator worth building into operations.
