Learner Details:
Name
Assignment No: 1
Phone No
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.
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:
Task 1: Why we should manage workplace health and
safety
1 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
Task 1: Why we should manage workplace health and
safety
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