Human Factors - Health and Safety in Design. Experience from the Norwegian Petroleum Industry

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dordi Hoivik ◽  
Thor Inge Throndsen
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Design Experience

scholarly journals A human factors engineering approach to a universal labeling system for communicating the risks of hazardous drugs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlyn Singam
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
Incidental Exposure ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Hazardous Drugs ◽  
Labeling System ◽  
Similar Risk

Federal law defines hazardous chemicals as any chemical that poses a physical or health hazard. A burgeoning segment of the modern arsenal of medications pose a similar risk. Cytotoxic and genotoxic medications are commonly cited examples of what this author classifies as hazardous drugs. However, due to the ambiguity or outright absence of textual warning labels on these medications, individuals who suffer incidental exposure in preparation, handling, administration and disposal of the drug may be compromising their health and safety. The risk posed by hazardous drugs is not limited to those within the healthcare community either, due to the large number of individuals who handle hazardous drugs during the process of manufacturing, transport, administration, and disposal. The author proposes a simple, clear label by which all individuals who come in contact with hazardous drugs – regardless of background – can readily distinguish between hazardous and non-hazardous drugs. The implementation of the labeling system proposed herein has the potential to increase awareness of handling risks for hazardous drugs, thereby improving health, safety, and the environment.

Is Australia Prepared for the Decommissioning Challenge? A Regulator's Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Christensen ◽  
Andrew Re
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Regulatory Reform ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Independent Expert ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Offshore Petroleum

Abstract The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) is Australia's independent expert regulator for health and safety, structural (well) integrity and environmental management for all offshore oil and gas operations and greenhouse gas storage activities in Australian waters, and in coastal waters where regulatory powers and functions have been conferred. The Australian offshore petroleum industry has been in operation since the early 1960s and currently has approximately 57 platforms, 11 floating facilities, 3,500km of pipelines and 1000 wells in operation. Many offshore facilities are now approaching the end of their operational lives and it is estimated that over the next 50 years decommissioning of this infrastructure will cost more than US$40.5 billion. Decommissioning is a normal and inevitable stage in the lifetime of an offshore petroleum project that should be planned from the outset and matured throughout the life of operations. While only a few facilities have been decommissioned in Australian waters, most of Australia's offshore infrastructure is now more than 20 years old and entering a phase where they require extra attention and close maintenance prior to decommissioning. When the NOGA group of companies entered liquidation in 2020 and the Australian Government took control of decommissioning the Laminaria and Corallina field development it became evident that there were some fundamental gaps in relation to decommissioning in the Australian offshore petroleum industry. There are two key focus areas that require attention. Firstly, regulatory reform including policy change and modification to regulatory practice. Secondly, the development of visible and robust decommissioning plans by Industry titleholders. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance and benefit of adopting good practice when planning for decommissioning throughout the life cycle of a petroleum project. Whilst not insurmountable, the closing of these gaps will ensure that Australia is well placed to deal with the decommissioning challenge facing the industry in the next 50 years.

scholarly journals Proper Use of Technical Standards in Offshore Petroleum Industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejan Brkić ◽  
Pavel Praks
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
European Economic Area ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Technical Standards ◽  
The North ◽  
Offshore Petroleum

Ships for drilling need to operate in the territorial waters of many different countries which can have different technical standards and procedures. For example, the European Union and European Economic Area EU/EEA product safety directives exclude from their scope drilling ships and related equipment onboard. On the other hand, the EU/EEA offshore safety directive requires the application of all the best technical standards that are used worldwide in the oil and gas industry. Consequently, it is not easy to select the most appropriate technical standards that increase the overall level of safety and environmental protection whilst avoiding the costs of additional certifications. We will show how some technical standards and procedures, which are recognized worldwide by the petroleum industry, can be accepted by various standardization bodies, and how they can fulfil the essential health and safety requirements of certain directives. Emphasis will be placed on the prevention of fire and explosion, on the safe use of equipment under pressure, and on the protection of personnel who work with machinery. Additionally considered is how the proper use of adequate procedures available at the time would have prevented three large scale offshore petroleum accidents: the Macondo Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010; the Montara in the Timor Sea in 2009; the Piper Alpha in the North Sea in 1988.

APPLYING WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HUMAN ERROR: FROM THEORY INTO PRACTICE

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 885
Author(s):  
E. Grey ◽  
P. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Process Systems ◽  
Error Training ◽  
Accident Causation ◽  
Applied Approach ◽  
Improve Health

Human error is often said to be at the heart of the majority of incidents and the developing discipline of human factors a way of understanding how these errors occur. There is little debate about this. But do we practise what we preach and are we reaping the benefits of applying the insights? Anecdotal evidence suggests not. Human error is too often interpreted as people being reckless, careless or just ignorant in discharging their duties. This so-called careless worker approach was the unstated assumption behind early moves to improve health and safety. It could be argued in the petroleum industry that we have adopted a more sophisticated approach, emphasising the importance of the engineering integrity of process systems and the role of formal management systems. However, there remains a need to better integrate what we know about human and organisational error. Reason’s (1997) organisational accident model has had a profound effect on how accidents are viewed and how we can learn from them. The clarity with which the model is presented does not, however, necessarily translate directly into ease of application. The model is a description of accident causation, but does not provide a method for making assessments about organisational resilience in its own right. As such, individuals wanting to use the model need to be well trained if benefits are to be realised. This paper describes a practical and applied approach to human error training based on principles of adult learning that is designed to tap into trainees’ existing knowledge and experiences.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION- WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL OBLIGATIONS OF JOINT VENTURE PARTICIPANTS?

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 738
Author(s):  
J. H. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Joint Venture ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Petroleum Exploration ◽  
Due Diligence ◽  
Management Activity ◽  
Insurance Cover ◽  
Day To Day Operations

Participants in joint venture operating agreements in Australia are potentially liable for environmental offences under State environmental statutes as well as Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Acts and State Petroleum Acts. In addition, adverse environmental impacts can affect an array of other commercial factors, including the future costs of obtaining finance, insurance cover and access to new acreage.The nature of potential risks and liabilities are such that environmental management must be regarded as an on-going risk management activity, integrated into all planning and day-to-day operations in the same way that health and safety management is now being widely incorporated in petroleum industry activities. Joint venture participants generally pay considerable attention to the calibre of the technical (geological and engineering) advice provided by the operator. It follows that they should also place considerable importance on the calibre of environmental management expertise provided by the operator and its contractors.A successful system of management should be modelled on a due diligence defence, which requires that those who are directing joint venture activities exercise due diligence, requiring the establishment of a proper system to prevent violations of the law and the effective operation of that system, including supervision, maintenance and improvements in business methods.

The human factor in forest operations: Engineering for health and safety

2008 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-542
Author(s):  
Jeremy Rickards
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Forest Operations ◽  
Workplace Issues ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Unique Source ◽  
Forest Engineering

Human Factors Engineering is an interdisciplinary science concerned with the effect of work on the human body and its relationship to the workplace. Since the 1970s, UNB – Forest Engineering has been a major contributor to teaching and research in this discipline, and in its application to forest operations. Rapid advances in mechanized tree-harvesting systems resulted in significant new workplace issues for operator health, safety, and machine design. Researchers responded by creating a CSA standard, working cooperatively with FERIC, CPPA and more recently the CWF, and founding the International Journal of Forest Engineering, which is a unique source for research results and developments in this discipline. Future research will involve multi-national teams of Human Factors Engineers, supported by related disciplines in healthcare and engineering. Key words: human factors, forest engineering, workplace health, workplace safety, mechanized forest operations

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