Page 43: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Mar/Apr 2020)

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PRODUCTS SAFETY FIRST

SAFETY FIRST

Source: Maridav/AdobeStock his product feature was going to be touching contaminated surfaces or ob- proven with thousands of new cases, if ?lled with tech and systems aimed jects – and then touching their eyes, you are standing within one meter of a

T at the all important offshore health nose, or mouth – and we do this often, person with COVID-19, you can catch and safety, a priority irrelevent of the even without realizing. This is why it’s it by breathing in droplets coughed out price of oil and gas. Thinking about it, important to keep washing hands with or exhaled by them. In other words, CO- we’d imagined we’d present you systems soap. Washing kills the virus on your VID-19 spreads in a similar way to ?u. designed to prevent offshore gas leaks, hands, and prevents the spread. Also, stay tough – as if you can force life saving equipment, ?re retardants, So, while you’ve probably been bom- someone to be tough – as some off- accident prevention tools; and some of barded by messages to wash your hands shore workers may be forced to stay on those are indeed here. However, little did frequently, given the ever increasing their rigs for longer, with the companies we know that something invented 2800 number of those who’ve contracted the adopting measures to stop, or slow down

B.C in Babylon – that we today take for virus – here it is again: “Please wash the spread of the virus. Shout-out to granted and use, apparently occasionally your hands frequently, no matter where those workers! With all the people in self- – would top this list – SOAP! You are un- your are, offshore or onshore.” isolation ashore, we may have a glimpse doubtedly now well aware the reasoning, According to the WHO Myth Busters how you feel when you’re out there on as it helps stop the spread of the deadly section, the new coronavirus can be trans- your rig in the middle of the ocean, and coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. mitted in all areas, including areas with granted, it could be better, but at least we

According to the World Health Orga- hot and humid weather, as well as in the get to be with our families, and we hope nization, when someone who has CO- cold weather. This means offshore facili- you’ll be with yours soon!

VID-19 coughs or exhales they release ties can be affected to, as seen in a recent Back to our safety systems and prod- droplets of infected ?uid. Most of these case at an installation in Norway. And no, ucts, we didn’t think helicopters would droplets fall on nearby surfaces and ob- garlic will not prevent the disease – this is end up in the health and safety systems jects - such as desks, tables or telephones. also included in the Myth Busters section. section, but they did. Read on as to how

People could catch COVID-19 by Also, as WHO has said, and it has been and why.

march/april 2020 OFFSHORE ENGINEER 43