Scenario and Answer
Scenario:
ABC Oil Company is a multi-national organisation that owns and operates Ingens - an offshore oil
and gas platform. Ingens is located in deep water, about 100km from the coast, and extracts and
processes oil and natural gas taken from beneath the seabed. Ingens is spread over several storeys
and includes accommodation for workers and a helipad on the top level. Records show regular
inspection and maintenance of the platform structure, equipment and systems.
Ingens operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, working over 2 shifts. The workforce includes
permanent ABC workers and contractors. There has always been extensive use of contractors on
Ingens and there are clear lines of communication between the contractors and the ABC workers.
An Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) has overall responsibility for Ingens including health and
safety, supported by shift managers. The OIM agrees the content of, and signs off, the health and
safety policy.
Findings from past incidents on some of ABC's other platforms have led to safety improvements on
Ingens. This includes equipment, processes and procedures. Ingens has a reporting procedure in
place for near misses and accidents. However, there have been no serious incidents reported in the
last year, although there have been a few near misses.
On arrival on Ingens, ABC workers receive induction training from shift managers which includes
basic first-aid and manual handling training, site rules and emergency procedures (which are
practised regularly). Site rules include the requirement for personal protective equipment (PPE) to
be worn at all times, and to carry a two-way radio which will be issued after induction. Some
contractors have complained that they may not receive inductions until several days after arriving on
Ingens. During these contractor inductions, those responsible for health and safety are identified,
such as the OIM and shift managers. The content of the health and safety policy is also
communicated during all inductions.
Scenario and Answer
There are several first-aiders on Ingens spread across different shifts. There is also a well-equipped
medical room (that has specialist lifesaving equipment) staffed by a trained paramedic. If, following
an accident, medical evacuation is necessary, the procedure in place is to make the area safe, treat
the injured, and the OIM calls the nearest ABC onshore control facility for a helicopter.
On Ingens, most tasks operate under a permit-to-work system. The site rules say that no-one should
be allowed to work without a permit-to-work (PTW), the specific requirements of which should be
communicated prior to starting work.
The OIM and shift managers have daily safety meetings, and information from these meetings is
communicated to workers. The OIM also monitors health and safety, carrying out regular audits, and
expects shift managers to perform regular safety inspections. The OIM is also expected to carry out
annual health and safety performance reviews.
Both the OIM and the shift managers are highly respected by workers and contractors. If workers
have any health and safety concerns, they are comfortable talking to them as they know they will be
heard.
The OIM and the shift managers are often seen speaking to workers and contractors.
Question:
Question Task 1: Why we should manage workplace health and safety
Question: Comment on the health and safety morals of ABC Oil Company. (10)
Note: You should support your answer, where applicable, using relevant information from the
scenario.
Answer:
ABC Oil Company shows good health and safety morals on the Ingens platform.
Scenario and Answer
They take proper care of workers by giving them induction training when they arrive, where they
teach about first aid, manual handling, site rules, and emergency procedures.
This shows that they want everyone to be safe from the beginning - and this is a sign of strong
moral values.
Wearing PPE all the time is mandatory, and workers are given radios to communicate easily.
Regular safety drills also happen, which shows the company believes that safety must be part of
everyday work, not just a rule written on paper.
There is a medical room on the platform with a trained paramedic, and a full plan is ready if
someone needs medical evacuation.
This proves the company cares about life, not just about completing the work.
The OIM and shift managers are respected leaders. They talk to workers every day, listen to their
safety concerns, and try to fix problems quickly.
It shows that ABC Oil Company has built a positive safety culture where everyone's life and opinion
matters.
Also, they have a system to report near misses and accidents, and they use this information to make
improvements. This shows they are honest and willing to learn from mistakes, which is a good moral
value.
