General Oil and Gas Safety Guidelines (Continued)
On-site Orientation
The list below contains guidelines for ensuring basic information requirements are achieved during preliminary on-site orientations:
- Upon arrival at the platform/MODU workers should undergo an offshore orientation. As a condition of boarding, workers should accept the authority of persons in charge and agree to comply with the company’s safety management system requirements. Non-compliance should result in removal from the facility or MODU.
- Workers should be aware of the person in charge to whom they report while on board.
- Pre-job safety meetings and emergency drills and exercises should be conducted as required by the SEMS II plan.
- The Station bill and alarms for the facility, including shoulder points and emergency egress should be reviewed.
- All new employees should know how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) required for their work.
- Employees should know the location of the “Right to Know” station and the location of Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
- Workers should understand and signify that they will comply with policies related to the Drug-Free Workplace, use of prescription medications, designated smoking area and contraband items.
- All workers should be receive information on safety, health, and environmental (HSE) responsibilities including incident reporting (spills, injuries, etc.).
- All workers should be instructed on their responsibilities while conducting Job Safety Analysis (JSA) procedures, Permit Authorizations, and Stop Work/Ultimate Authority responsibilities.
- Workers should be informed on the nature of simultaneous operations.
- Specific facility programs or procedures should be discussed as necessary.
Drug-free Workplace Policy
All companies should be committed to protecting the safety, health and well-being of all employees. Companies should have a policy that states they recognize that alcohol and drug abuse pose a significant and unacceptable threat to safety goals and objectives. A strong, yet fair, Drug-free Workplace Program should be designed, developed, and deployed throughout all facilities.
- All employees should be prohibited from using, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while conducting work or business on company property or premises.
- Testing workers for illicit drug or alcohol use may be accomplished for the following reasons:
- a random test should be conducted at any time chosen by company management
- a post-incident test following an injury, spill, or property damage incident
- for cause when reasonable suspicion exists
- Employees or contractors should be required to disclose any prescription medication at initial orientation and subsequent trips offshore.
Fit for Duty – Sober and Focused
All company and contractor employees must be able to safely and acceptably perform assigned duties without any limitations due to the use or effects of alcohol, illicit drugs, fatigue, or medications.
Bottom-line, everyone must be sober and focused on the work they are performing.
Hazard Reporting
Company and contractor employees are responsible for reporting any hazards they may observe on the platform to their immediate platform supervisor.
The person observing the hazard should take all actions within his or her ability to safely prevent the situation from developing further.
Follow the company’s near miss/incident reporting requirements.
Incident Reporting
An incident or accident is an unplanned event that causes or has the potential to cause injury or illness, and damage to property, company assets, or the environment.
When workers are offshore, all injuries or illnesses should be reported and documented. No injury or illness is too minor to report. This includes both work related and non-work related injuries or illnesses.
Company employees should report all incidents to a supervisor as soon as practicable (within 1 hour). Written incident reports should be submitted within 4 hours and preliminary accident investigation reports within 24 hours.
Contractors should plan to submit completed investigation reports no later than 7 days from time of the incident.
For more information on this topic, see OSHAcademy Course 702.
Behavior-Based Safety Observation Programs
Many contractors use behavior-based safety model as a job observation system program that aims to promote and encourage positive safety behavior. This program usually requires that observers intervene with workers who carry out unsafe behaviors or practices, taking positive steps to correct them.
To increase the likelihood of success, companies should participate in behavior-based programs only:
- when the company’s safety culture will support it
- it is appropriate and applicable to the worksite location (e.g. drilling)
Job Planning
The key to good performance lies in the amount of planning that goes into the operation before the job starts.
Prior to the start of work, all workers should review the proposed work schedule and ensure that everything required to perform the job is in place and ready.
These could include:
- barrier tape or signs warning of the work being performed
- correct tools
- Job Safety Analysis (JSA)
- personal protective equipment
- fall protection
- permits to work (PTW)
- isolation permits
- trained workers to do the job
- work instructions
Contraband Items
The possession of deadly weapons or explosives on company premises or while conducting operations should be strictly forbidden.
- Firearms, guns, ammunition or other similar items where the use, possession, transfer, storage, concealment, transportation or sale of which is not specifically authorized or allowed on an offshore facility should be strictly prohibited.
- Illicit drugs, drug paraphernalia, incense, controlled substances or alcoholic beverages on company premises or while conducting company business should be strictly forbidden.
- Only knives with retractable blades designed for commercial use are allowed to be used during work on an offshore platform. A personal ‘jackknife’ or hunting knife should be prohibited.
- Explosives should be strictly prohibited on company leases, excluding those used for legitimate operational purposes, such as perforation.
Company or contractor employees who violate best practices or fail to cooperate with a search request should be refused access to company facilities.
Silver Eagle Refinery Explosion Video
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