HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT
2016
8
3. Health
It is important to manage the health and well-being of the offshore workforce effectively, particularly given the
remoteness of the worksite. It is Oil & Gas UK’s policy that all persons working offshore are examined regularly by
a medical professional and deemed medically fit before travelling offshore. A suite of occupational health-related
legislation also applies offshore. This section explores health-related activities and relevant offshore data.
3.1 Occupational Health and Hygiene
The number of reported incidents of ill health offshore has fluctuated over the years. There were only 47 incidents
of ill health reported between 2013 and 2015. The largest number (40 per cent) were due to viral or bacterial
conditions such as chickenpox or mumps, while musculoskeletal (e.g. hand-arm vibration) and occupational skin
conditions make up the remaining incidents. Cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and, increasingly, strokes)
continues to be the leading cause for medical emergencies on offshore installations.
Oil & Gas UK’s Occupational Health and Hygiene Technical Group works to raise the profile of health and hygiene
related issues offshore and shares learnings and good practice in managing them. The group also provides a
platform for industry engagement with the regulators and supports regulatory compliance to improve occupational
health management.
To ensure consistent quality in the delivery of healthcare offshore, the group has proposed developing an industry
training and competence standard for offshore medic competency assurance. It is collaborating with OPITO
– the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation – to create such a standard.
Figure 1: Number of RIDDOR
3
Reported ill Health Incidents
0
5
10
15
20
25
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013
2014
2015
Number of Reportable ill Health Incidents
Source: The Health and Safety Executive
*
*Period of reporting changed from fiscal to calendar year
3
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).