The Strangest Challenges to Oil Rig Safety: Cell Phones Its not taken seriously as much, but it wasnt long ago that safety experts urged people to avoid using their cell phones while pumping gas. The reasoning went that the phone parts, either the batteries or the electronics, could spark and ignite the gas fumes.

Why are phones not allowed on the rig?

Rig Location: ADC prohibits the use of mobile phone during work due to the following reasons.. Mobile phones are distraction device which may harm the employee and cause accidents. Mobile phones may accidentally activate explosives or other electronic based equipment due to the wave generated from the phone.

Can mobile phones be used on oil rigs?

Leisure facilities differ, but modern rigs often have games rooms, gyms and cinemas. Before internet, workers could only call home once a week for 6 minutes! These days most rigs have wifi for Skype, social media and emails on tablets and laptops, although mobile phones are often banned and phone signal is rare.