bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Injuries and Fatalities Prevention during Lifeboat Drills and Maintenance
Authors: Fahmy Ibrahim 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to provide the best practice to prevent injuries and fatalities during drills and maintenance for totally enclosed motor propelled survival craft (TEMPSC) on any normally manned Fixed offshore installations, Mobile Offshore Drilling Rigs, jack-up barges and floating barges/heavy lift vessels to ensure safe evacuation of personnel to safe place where they can be recovered.
Lifeboats have been involved in a number of serious/fatal incidents during maintenance operations and drills (e.g. Offshore Drilling Rig AD22 in 2009) when the boat has inadvertently fallen into the sea.
The outcomes of worldwide Survey investigated the root causes of most lifeboats incidents in the last 15 years, Root causes have been categorized as follow:
Unsafe practices during lifeboat drills and inspections; Communication failures; Inadequate maintenance of lifeboats, davits and launching equipment; Inadequate training for personnel maintaining/operating the lifeboat. Lack of familiarity with lifeboats, davits, equipment and associated controls; Failure of on-load release mechanism; Inadvertent operation of on-load release mechanism;and Design faults other than on-load release mechanisms. [2]
The survey highlited that unsafe drills by manned launching and recovery of lifeboats and poor maintenance have been played the significant root causes in the high number of incidents and consequences.
Totally enclosed motor propelled survival craft (TEMPSC) should be considered to be a safety-critical element, Therefore Performance Standards should be established and a Written Scheme of Verification prepared to demonstrate their integrity.
Performance standards should be expressed in qualitative and quantitative terms against the fundamental parameters of Functionality, Reliability/Availability, and Survivability and should be measurable & auditable.
Eliminating the associated root causes of fatal Lifeboats accidents during launching and recovery of lifeboats for the purpose of drills/preventive planned maintenance program is the way forward by Making Lifeboat Drills Safer.
The Importance of Noise Management Early in the Design Process
Authors: Alvarez Daniel 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Headaches, tiredness, stomach ulcers, hypertension, vertigo, nausea, a permanent whining, buzzing, hissing or humming in the ears. Noise can also damage hearing permanently in the worst cases. Excessive noise reduces work efficiency, and increases absenteeism. In extreme cases, noise can be fatal if there is so much noise that personnel cannot hear instructions or alarms.
Good noise performance is critical to the business performance, safety and environmental excellence of any asset. Good noise performance is largely a question of good management, coupled with the necessary technical expertise.
Noise management practice varies from a high risk, zero cost "do nothing!" approach to a low risk, high cost "do everything possible!" Apart from the operational penalties of inadequate or non-existing noise management – harm to personnel, environmental damage and reduced performance – the immediate financial risks of the "do nothing" approach are increasing as authorities around the world become more acutely sensitive to the issue of noise in the welfare of workers and the environment. Permits and licenses may be revoked on the basis of poor noise performance and retroactive noise control can be extremely costly.
However, the "do everything!" approach has an equally dramatic downside. Noise control measures can be intrusive; they can limit access to essential machinery, impact negatively on other aspects of health and safety and, in many cases, impose limitations on the performance of facilities and equipment.
Between these two extremes lies successful noise management which minimizes the health and safety impact of noise, while maintaining the accessibility, operability and performance of machinery and components. The best noise management does this in the most cost-efficient manner, focusing treatment only where it is needed. This requires an intimate understanding of not only where noise comes from and how it spreads and fills work spaces, but also knowledge of the practices of personnel and how these affect their exposure to noise.
This document presents the different aspects of importance when conducting noise prediction in offshore assets and the consequences of executing noise studies at different phases of projects.
Integrated Safety and Technical Competency Training for New Oil Spill Responders
Authors: Xin Dong 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
The objective of the paper is to introduce the integrated safety and technical competency training provided to new staff in Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL). Oil spill response is not only associated with generic operational risks, but also special risks due to the emergency nature of the tasks. New employees in such response organisations, depending on their years of experience and the area of previous work, have broadly varied ability in safety management. The significant number of responders recruited after the Macondo incident leads to a notable dilution of safety skill and technical skill in the company. This paper demonstrates how OSRL addressed this issue by using a matrix training model.
The aim of running this model is to train people into competent spill response specialists with well-built safety skills. All the new recruits are put through the training the first year after they join the organisation. The model is divided into three stages: induction and initial training, Offline Training program, and Approved Competence Management System (ACMS) appraisal. In each stage, safety training is incorporated at three levels. They are general technical level, specific module level, and assessment level. At the general technical level, candidates receive technical training where safety aspects are added in as an important ingredient. At the specific module level, they attend training which focuses on safety topics. At the assessment level, candidates expect exams or assessment where they are formally tested how they handle safety issues. The training forms a learning curve from awareness to performance to competence. Following this model, new responders are able to perform the role of spill response specialist in a safe manner and understand the knowledge behind it.
The training model adopted by OSRL provides a comprehensive, solid, and practical approach to address the diluted safety skill issue. It has been successfully implemented and received positive feedbacks. The model structure is applicable to similar organisations, while the concept of matrix training models is applicable to a much wider area. It sets Best Management Practice (BMP) for further implementations in the industry.
Life-Saver Program
Authors: Al Shiri Hyatt 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
In early 2010, the Bunduq Company Ltd. ("Bunduq") commenced a wide-ranging Program aimed at upgrading the first aid and emergency response skills and equipment across its onshore and offshore facilities, with a particular focus on enhancing the capabilities of its offshore nursing staff and Emergency Teams. Though still ongoing, the Program has delivered significant benefits in each of the target areas. By taking a new approach to training: combining formal training delivered offshore followed up with comprehensive scenario-based drills and practices and supporting the nursing staff through individual coaching, the Life-Saver Program has created a step change in the readiness of Bunduq's staff to deal with any medical emergency.
A Picture Paints A Thousand Words
Authors: Moussa Khaled 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
ADMA-OPCO is committed to enhancing the health, safety and quality of life of its employees through our HSEQ programs. The drive for continual improvement and achieving excellence is an integral part of our business culture.
Another HSEQ initiative ADMA-OPCO HSEQ Visual Guidelines which aim to enhance the HSE Performance and increase observation reporting at all sites.
The HSEQ Visual Guidelines has been developed in order to provide a simple, user-friendly visual reference guide for all employees on how to perform work safely and maintain an incident-free work environment, to improve the health and performance of people, and to increase the awareness on environmental protection.
Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Visual Guidelines are the result of a series of illustrations highlighting the correct and incorrect practices.
Xmas Tree Risk Ranking
Authors: Bhatti Ali 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
The increase in the field of awareness of well risk ranking and integrity compliance has increased the concerns about the integrity assurance of the surface barriers. In order to safeguard the asset integrity and flow assurance, it is becoming increasingly important to adequately service and maintain the Xmas tree to confirm the well integrity and ensure the surface barrier against hydrocarbon leakage can be relied upon in the event of an emergency.
This paper describes the process the risk ranking process of the Xmas tree as the last surface barrier. It explains the criticality of valve components and risk rank of the Xmas tree finally leading to the overall risk rank of the well. It also priorties the maintance jobs priority for the failed components of each risk ranked Xmas tree. All possible scenarios of the valve failure in Xmas tree are considered in this matrix. It also describes the shift in the maintenance strategy of the Xmas tree to reduce the number of high risk wells.
Development of a Risk-Based Approach for High-Sour Exploration Wells
Authors: Book Gareth , Bates Mike 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Approximately one-third of the world's gas fields contain ‘sour gas’, contaminated by hydrogen sulphide, (H2S)[1]. H2S is one of the most deadly hazards in the oil and gas industry, making such fields more difficult to develop, especially when they are located in the vicinity of populated areas. Conventional approaches to wellsite layout generally use conservative consequence- based criteria, which mean a large number of high-sour wells cannot be drilled due to the potential impact on population centres from an uncontrolled release of sour gas. However, adopting a risk-based approach to wellsite layout could change this.
This paper presents a case study in which a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) of a high-sour exploration well was performed to quantify the risk to members of the public from the drilling operation, and ensure that risks were tolerable and As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). The QRA demonstrated that although the maximum airborne H2S concentration at the closest populated area would be 60 ppm, the risk levels were assessed as being tolerable and significantly below industry accepted risk tolerability criteria for members of the public. The QRA shows a snap-shot of what can happen but does not demonstrate how the risks are managed in order to prevent the ‘one in a million’ event from happening. Notwithstanding this, the project team identified a series of further risk reduction measures that were implemented to ensure that the risk to members of the public was ALARP.
The well was subsequently drilled successfully without incident, and the approach described in this paper implemented as the framework for future high-sour exploration drilling operations in the organisation.
Flare Tip Replacement by Helicopter: Methodology Selected Based on HSE Risk Reduction
Authors: Gonzalbo Alexandre , Saheb Suleiman , Al-Shaikh-Ali Amer 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
The best way to reduce risk is to eliminate it all together. Total Abu Al Bukhoosh (TABK) is a mature field being operated for many years, yet new technologies and innovative solutions are constantly fed into our operations and maintenance toolbox. Through use of an innovative approach for maintenance activities, Total ABK reduced by 90% the overall manhours of exposure during an offshore flare tip replacement.
TABK compared two alternatives for the flare tip replacement program. The first was to perform the operation using conventional heavy load crane barge methodology. The activity is performed by landing the barge near the flare header and removing the tip with the crane. The second option was to perform the replacement by helicopter rather than crane barge, using the "long line" flying technique (sometime referred to as "Vertical Reference"). This methodology is very innovative and is performed by expert crews only as it requires experienced hands, high-tech equipment and specialized guidance tools.
There are many benefits using the helicopter approach, most impressive of which is the overall reduction in workplace exposure. Total hours for the helicopter operation including on-site prep time was 123 hours, versus an estimated 2880 hours for the crane barge approach. Additional benefits include reduced down time (two field days vs. three weeks), reduced chance of weather delays and up to 7 times less CO2 emissions. HSE performance improvement doesn’t mean additional cost as this approach was 1/3 of the cost of the crane barge approach.
Managing Shift Work in the Offshore Workplace
Authors: Duguay Alexandra , Sridhar Biju , Boisson Guy , Dolmetta Laurent 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Working on offshore installations involves rotation scheme that are very variable; 4 weeks on-4 weeks off, 6 weeks on -3 weeks off, 8 weeks on- 4 weeks off, or even 20 weeks on-4 weeks off.
At TOTAL ABK, we are convinced that human factors make a significant contribution to Health and Safety and that further improvements in HSE performance, over and above those resulting from improvements in engineering and management systems, will only come about if human factors are taken into account.
Committed to tackle this issue and sensible to the increasing international evidence that long working patterns can lead to adverse health effects such as demotivation, anxiety, biological rhythms disturbances, and/or negative sleep patterns, TOTAL ABK Management has decided to implement a comprehensive shift work life style training program and to optimize rotation schemes of key personnel. A thorough assessment was done and the longest rotation periods were reduced without salary cuts on all the employees.
Although the effects of extended work hours and shift patterns on performance is well documented in the international HSE literature, the local expectations are not set in terms of the maximum duration of work assignment in remote locations. Therefore efforts were undertaken by TOTAL ABK to enforce these optimized rotations to key contractors who responded positively.
TOTAL ABK Commitment to reduce the likelihood of accidents and ill health is paramount and the continuous strive to eradicate any latent sources of risk to Health and Safety of its personnel has been successfully demonstrated with this initiative.
Benchmarking Safety KPI's - Enhancing Safety Performance
Authors: Al Abdul Salam Abdulla , Adivi Bala Siva 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Benchmarking has become a general activity in today's business environment. It permits an apparent understanding of the performance of a business entity in comparison with its peers, competitors and global leaders. As a step towards world-class performance it undoubtedly has its benefits in identifying areas for commendation and areas for improvement.
Creating benchmarks for environmental health and safety are key components of a Health Safety Environment Management System. However, there is a need to be cautious in how benchmarking is carried out. Businesses are complex organisms - they operate in an environment where external and internal pressures compete to drive strategy and tactical decisions in a variety of disparate directions. Focusing on a particular area may give and unbalanced view of the performance of the business. Benchmarking needs to be holistic in its approach, giving a clear overview of the performance of the whole business and shows the areas where focus to be given by the management to enhance the performance. It is presumed that companies use their own selection of Key Performance Indicators to measure HSE Performance. However, this paper gives emphasis the importance of benchmarking, Safety KPI's of industry wide accepted which can be used to benchmark their performance against that of the global oil & gas industry, in particular to E&P industry through which safety performance can be accessed regularly and ensures continual improvement.
Integrated Measures to Reduce Oil Flaring to Zero
Authors: El-Sheikh Hosny , Al Mazen Ghuloom 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
To achieve full compliance with ADNOC HSE guidelines, and to align with ADMA-OPCO management Vision, Mission and values to have one integrated team to optimize oil & Gas production from offshore areas in a safe maner through high performance respecting healthy safety & Environments. Inline with that purpose ADMA-OPCO Drilling Division Rigless Team introduced in year 2000 an innovation & low cost integrated set up to handle well intervention operations in sfae manner. This system were perminantelly installed on also low cost multi-purpose service self propelld jack up barge as below pictures.
The goal to have this integrated set-up, is to handle all well intervention operation in a closed loope work envelop. All fluids produced from the well will be handeld safely with out harming environment. In ADMA OPCO it is commomon / standard practice to carry out acid stimulation post rig operations to enhance well productivity. The well must be cleaned out from spent acid and depries created from acid reaction with Limeston formations (ADMA reservoir). During this clean up the well must be opend on a fully open choke size & low separator pressure which will cause separation for produced fluids (Gas, Oil and water). For water, it is treated & dumped overboard but for oil & gas it the the issue. In the past they were obliged to flaire oil and gas. Since re-injection system introduced oil flaring reduced / eliminated gradually to currently Zero % as well as the gas during clean up and flow test periods. The gas flaring was reduced by more than 75% during the whole operation. This set up provided in a perminant long term contract price which is condidered very cheep price compaired with the total volume of oil re-injected to production facility. Atotal off ±2.5 MM barrels of oil re-injected into production since utilizing the system in 2000 up to date.
These proven practices is currentelly implemented in all fields, where ADMA -OPCO is operating, and also extended to other ADNOC group offshore companies.
Opioid-regulated pro- and anti-apoptotic gene expression in cancer cells
Authors: Gach Katarzyna , Wyrębska Anna , Szemraj Janusz , Janecka Anna 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Morphine, as well as opioid peptides, are well-known powerful analgesics. In addition to their use in the treatment of pain, opioids appear to be important in the growth regulation of neoplastic tissue. However, little is known on the influence of opioid peptides on apoptosis modulation in cancer cells. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the µ-opioid receptor (MOR)-selective peptide, morphiceptin and its two synthetic analogs, on mRNA expression and protein levels of some crucial factors involved in apoptosis in three human cancer cell lines: MCF-7, HT-29, and SH-SY5Y. Using real-time PCR and ELISA assays, we have shown that the selected opioid peptides enhanced apoptosis of cancer cells by increasing the expression of pro-apoptoticc Bax and caspase-3, and decreasing expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis performed on MCF-7 cells treated with annexin V/propidium iodide confirmed that the tested opioid peptides induced apoptosis in cancer cells. However, induction of apoptosis was not reversed by the opioid antagonist, naloxone, which suggests that this process is not mediated by the opioid receptors.
Functional Limitations and Workdays Lost Associated with Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Bhattacharyya Neil 
Published: April 2012

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and allergic rhinitis are associated with functional limitations, but these impacts are not known on a population basis. Our objective was to epidemiologically determine functional limitations and workdays lost that are associated with CRS and allergic rhinitis in adults. Methods The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for calendar year 2007 was examined to identify cases of CRS and allergic rhinitis. Functional limitation variables for activity limitation, work limitation, social limitation, and cognitive limitation determined by the survey also were extracted. Using multivariate models adjusting for age, gender, race, ethnicity, education level, insurance status, geographic region, as well as the Charlson comorbidity index, incremental differences in workdays lost and these functional limitations were determined for patients with and without CRS and allergic rhinitis. Results Among 225.1 million adults, the prevalences of CRS and allergic rhinitis were 4.9 ± 0.2% and 7.9 ± 0.3%, respectively. Patients with CRS demonstrated an incremental 1.04 ± 0.3 workdays lost per year along with significant increased adjusted odds ratios for activity limitation (odds ratio, 1.54), work limitation (1.50), and social limitation (1.49, all p < .005) but not cognitive limitation (1.05, p = .21 Patients with allergic rhinitis demonstrated an incremental 0.60 ± 0.45 workdays lost along with significant increased adjusted odds ratios for activity limitation (1.42), work limitation (1.43), social limitation (1.47), and cognitive limitation (1.32, all p < .019). Conclusions Both CRS and allergic rhinitis impart significantly increased odds ratios for activity, work, and social limitations. Allergic rhinitis also carries with it statistically significant odds of functional cognitive limitation. The total aggregate workdays missed in the United States may be estimated at 11.5 million workdays and 10.7 million workdays for CRS and allergic rhinitis, respectively.