Ocean drilling platforms require a lot of things to happen at the same time for them to operate properly. This is because they need to be self-sufficient for long stretches of time. After all, the nearest port will still be far away. If any emergency breaks out, response teams from the shore should react immediately and the drill team should know what to do with themselves so that they can have a fighting chance of surviving.

If something happens on board that might damage certain equipment, the crew will have to assess whether it is still safe to continue operations. Most of the time, they will have to suspend operations just to fix equipment. This is because the oil rig itself will have very little room for error. Anything that goes on is accompanied with great risk. This means that the crew will have to safely go about this by properly setting up utility markers in the areas that are potentially dangerous.

If the damage is catastrophic, the crew will have to issue a mayday and evacuate the rig. They will have to board a life-support craft and float away from the rig until they are picked up by rescuers. However, their craft will be relatively small in the turbulent ocean. This means that their craft has to be painted bright so that it is easy to spot. It will also need a nautical flag so that it can stand out in the rolling ocean. This should make it easier for rescuers to spot them and pluck them from danger.