Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

The Work

Typical daily jobs are likely to include:

• Cleaning, scraping and painting the deck, equipment and work areas.
• Off-loading supplies from boats and moving them to storage areas.
• Mixing and conditioning drilling mud.
• Moving supplies and equipment to the work site.
• Stacking drill-pipes.
• General work in the pump room (such as helping to repair mud pumps).

The roustabout's job is physically demanding, very hands-on and practical. Most of the work is carried out under the supervision of a lead roustabout.

Roughnecks do practical tasks involved in the drilling operation, under the supervision of the driller:

• Adding fresh lengths of drill-pipe as the drill bites deeper into rock.
• Pulling the whole drill out to change the drill-bit or to retrieve rock cores.
• Cleaning, de-sanding and de-silting equipment
• Keeping the drilling equipment in good order.

Working hours on rigs and platforms are normally 12 hours on and 12 hours off continuously for two or three weeks, followed by an equal amount of rest period at home.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Keep pipe deck and main deck areas clean and tidy.
• Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.
• Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks.
• Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorised lifts, or by hand.
• Bolt together pump and engine parts.
• Guide cranes to move loads about decks.
• Supply equipment to rig floors as requested and provide assistance to roughnecks.
• Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.
• Clean up spilled oil by bailing it into barrels.
• Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks.

Further Information

• Roustabout - Roughneck - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

To work as a Roustabout training or work experience in mechanics may be useful, However there are Oil & Gas Apprenticeships available in the UK, where most work in the field is available. Progressing on to working as a Roughneck will be a consequence of on the job development and potentially also specific training courses.

Key Skills certs

Manual Handling 

Safepass 

Offshore Firesafety

Working at height

Signalling/ slinger (for Hand signaling communication in movements) 

These courses may be available at low or no cost in FET centres nationwide. You can search for these key skills certs, just add the key word via Search our FET Coursefinder

Working on an offshore rig requires passing certain safety courses, in topics such as offshore survival and firefighting, these are known as basic offshore induction and emergency training (BOSIET) (OPITO) training standards / Offshore Health & Safety regulations.

Traning & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship: Construction, Manufacturing & Engineering operations NFQ level 5 Search FET Traineeship

FET PLC courses: Construction, Manufacturing, Engineering NFQ level 5 Search our FET PLC coursefinder

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €24k - €50k

Salaries vary by employer, location, project, shift pattern, and experience.

Data Source(s):
Reed.co.uk/ Salary Explorer/ Morgan McKinley/ Sigmar

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Despite the strong employment growth rate for this occupation over the five-year period, employment only returned to pre-COVID-19 levels in 2022.

Although the green transition may result in an increased demand for elementary workers in energy and sewerage plant operations, the small numbers employed across the various roles in this occupation do not allow for detailed demand analysis.

• Irish Offshore Operators Association (IOOA)

  • Click Here