Abstract
All-Hazards Risk Assessment Approach to Health & Safety in the International Oil & Gas Industry
Gail Fraser Chanpong, DrPH, CIH, CHMM1 and Cynthia Okroj, MSN, RN2
(1)Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, College Station, TX, (2)Bon Accord Allergy and Wellness LLC, Lago Vista, TX
APHA 2016 Annual Meeting & Expo (Oct. 29 - Nov. 2, 2016)
Introduction: An All-Hazards Risk Assessment was conducted to develop global technical assessment tools for occupational health and safety practitioners. The purpose was to strengthen the universal workplace health and safety culture, enhance occupational health decision-making and intensify strategic oil and gas safety policies in the Middle East.
Methods: The All-Hazards Risk Assessment (AHRA) was a quantitative, exposure-based surveillance assessment of all processes at three selected off-shore oil drilling rig locations near Doha and Ras Laffan, Qatar. The assessment included a comprehensive review of policies to ensure mandatory compliance with best practices. The AHRA focused specifically on priority health, safety and disaster response procedures, including respiratory protection and emergency evacuation.
Results: The AHRA prioritized a full range of potential risks to improve recognition and control of occupational hazards within this comprehensive review of occupational safety and health. The first priority impact was the overhaul of the personal protective equipment maintenance system. Second, health and safety trainings for leadership and off-shore supervisors to strengthen multi-cultural hazard communication. Third, integration of communication hierarchy improvements into a standardized occupational health technical assessment tool.
Conclusions: The AHRA evaluated vulnerabilities associated with job and site specific threats, identified potential consequences and documented means for risk mitigation to ensure the right to health. The major AHRA outcome was the intensification of timelines and future roll-out of revised occupational health and risk reduction strategies. Effective integration of the all-hazards risk assessment fully activated occupational health standard operating procedures mandated by international standards and corporate standard operating procedures.
Diversity and culture Occupational health and safety