Page 25: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Feb/Mar 2013)

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PerspectivesPerspectives

AnalysisAnalysisAnalysis

Safety becomes ‘cool’Safety becomes ‘cool’

Offshore work can be dangerous and many accidents Offshore work can be dangerous and many accidents have a strong human element in their causation. have a strong human element in their causation.

Victor Schmidt explains why the oil & gas Victor Schmidtexplains why the oil & gas industry must constantly adapt and industry must constantly adapt and adjust its work practices and tools adjust its work practices and tools to improve worker safety.to improve worker safety.

Mass media headlines shine a bright light Mass media headlines shine a bright light on industry accidents, equipment failures, on industry accidents, equipment failures,

M and fatalities. Incidents draw international and fatalities. Incidents draw international attention because of their severity, and attention because of their severity, and because of the global pro? le of the because of the global pro? le of the companies that build, service and operate companies that build, service and operate offshore facilities. Although major offshore facilities. Although major incidents are rare, they can be spectacular incidents are rare, they can be spectacular when they occur.when they occur.

Safety onboard rigs is a rising issue Safety onboard rigs is a rising issue for another reason – the ‘great crew for another reason – the ‘great crew change’ is bringing a new generation of change’ is bringing a new generation of workers into the business, who will have workers into the business, who will have to learn and follow the best operating to learn and follow the best operating practices that their predecessors have practices that their predecessors have developed through years of experience. developed through years of experience.

New workers and new technologies will New workers and new technologies will further re? ne and improve workplace safety.further re? ne and improve workplace safety.

The offshore oil & gas business has been The offshore oil & gas business has been getting safer, even as signi? cant incidents draw getting safer, even as signi? cant incidents draw media attention. Statistics available from the media attention. Statistics available from the

International Association of Drilling Contractors International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) Incident Statistics Program demonstrate a (IADC) Incident Statistics Program demonstrate a steadily improving workplace environment. steadily improving workplace environment. The program shows that staff worked an average The program shows that staff worked an average 452.98 million hours/year over the 2008-12, ? ve-year 452.98 million hours/year over the 2008-12, ? ve-year period. Through 3Q 2012, IADC survey participants period. Through 3Q 2012, IADC survey participants reported 424,624,752.36 hours worked, so the total for reported 424,624,752.36 hours worked, so the total for 2012 will likely exceed the average of the prior ? ve 2012 will likely exceed the average of the prior ? ve years. Both incident rate/200,000 hours and frequency years. Both incident rate/200,000 hours and frequency rate/1,000,000 hours for lost time incidents (LTI), days rate/1,000,000 hours for lost time incidents (LTI), days away restricted or transferred (DART), and recordable away restricted or transferred (DART), and recordable events (RCRD) have dropped by 45% or more since events (RCRD) have dropped by 45% or more since 2008 (see chart). The industry’s commitment to safety is see chart). The industry’s commitment to safety is oedigital.com February 2013 | OEFebruary 2013 | OE 2727 oe_analysisFEB.indd 27 31/01/2013 10:30