Class code 6829 — Well Drilling

This classification covers well drilling contractors who drill water wells and exploratory boreholes, then install the casing, pumps, and related equipment needed to bring the well into service. Crews operate specialized drilling rigs mounted on trucks or trailers, mixed with hands-on work setting well casing, connecting pumps, and running the electrical and piping needed to complete the system.

Payroll includes rig operators who run the drilling equipment, helpers who handle pipe and casing during the drilling process, and installers who complete the pump and wellhead setup once drilling is finished. This work often takes crews to remote or rural sites without the infrastructure of a typical job site, adding logistical and safety planning considerations.

Drilling rigs involve rotating equipment and heavy pipe sections being raised and lowered repeatedly, creating pinch point and struck-by hazards throughout the drilling process. Working with pressurized drilling fluids and handling long sections of pipe and casing also drives strain injuries, and the remote locations of many well sites mean help can be farther away if an incident occurs, which is a factor in the high-risk rating for this trade.