07.16.09
Top 10 HTML downloads to May 2009
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The offshore industry: overview
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Offshore industry: medical emergency response in the offshore oil and gas industry
Background The hunt for oil and gas has taken workers into new more distant locations including those offshore. The remoteness of the offshore platforms and vessels coupled with the potential risk of being cut off by bad weather presents particular challenges for medical emergency response (MER).
Aims Firstly to define the challenges for MER in terms of locations, population and epidemiology of injuries and illnesses in the offshore environment. Secondly to give examples of legal requirements and industry standards to manage MER. Thirdly to look at existing and emerging practice to manage these challenges.
Methods A review of published literature was supplemented with a summary of current practice in the industry.
Results and discussion Medical professionals (medics) working offshore on installations and vessels are primarily responsible for the medical care of the workers. The medics have clinics with suitable medical equipment for managing emergencies as well as providing limited primary care. Some countries have legislation that stipulate minimum requirements. Where there is no national legislation, industry and company guidance is used to define the MER standards. Supervision of the offshore medics is often provided by doctors on shore via radio and phone links. These methods of communication are now being augmented with more sophisticated telemedicine solutions such as the Internet and live video links. These newer solutions allow for prompt high-quality care and provide the scope for a variety of new treatment options to be available for the offshore workforce.
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Offshore industry: management of health hazards in the upstream petroleum industry
Background Upstream oil and gas operations involve a range of activities, including exploration and drilling, conventional oil and gas production, extraction and processing of ‘tar sands’, heavy oil processing and pipeline operations.
Aims Firstly, to outline the nature of health risks in the offshore oil and gas industry to date. Secondly, to outline the commercial, technical and social challenges that could influence the future context of health management in the industry. Thirdly, to speculate how the health function within the industry needs to respond to these challenges.
Methods A review of the published literature was supplemented with industry subject matter and expert opinion.
Results There was a relatively light peer-reviewed published literature base in an industry which is perceived as having changed little over three decades, so far as offshore health hazards for physical, chemical, biological hazards are concerned. Recent focus has been on musculoskeletal disorders and stress.
Conclusions The relative stability of the knowledge base regarding health hazards offshore may change as more innovative methods are employed to develop hydrocarbon resources in more ‘difficult’ environments. Society's willingness to accept risk is changing. Addressing potential health risks should be done much earlier in the planning process of major projects. This may reveal a skills gap in health professionals as a consequence of needing to employ more anticipatory tools, such as modelling exposure estimations and the skills and willingness to engage effectively with engineers and other HSSE professionals.
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Offshore industry shift work–health and social considerations
Shift work is an integral part of many offshore jobs. While a considerable body of evidence exists concerning the impact of shift work in general, much less research has been directed specifically at the offshore workplace. This brief review attempts to highlight some of the work that has particular application to this environment, relating to physical health, psychosocial well-being and safety. Shift working has been an integral part of the offshore environment since the beginning of the industry, but it is only in the recent years that substantial effort has been directed towards the potential problems (or benefits) in this specific environment. It is clear that the offshore working community presents unique situations that need to be addressed specifically rather than managed as direct extensions of routine onshore shift work. Some unique features of the offshore workplace are identified and a number of possible areas for further research are highlighted.
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