bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety, Health and Ergonomics in Mobile Equipment: Combining them can be Simple and Practical
Authors: Cocianni Virgilio , Williamson Mark 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Safety and health, although typically joined into one function, often conflict in their demand for attention. Safety experts usually focus on the acute results of a single event, whereas health experts look at the less-visible, long-term chronic effects. Ergonomics, by virtue of its connection to both safety and health aspects, provides an opportunity to combine the two in working towards a common goal. Previous studies have shown that ergonomic reviews on field operations can lead to significant benefit to worker health and safety. Building on those studies, a series of detailed field audits were performed on pressure pumping and coiled-tubing operations. A resulting remedial work plan was proposed and is being implemented. One of the key findings was that there is no systematic involvement of ergonomic and industrial design experts in mobile equipment engineering and development. This weakness extends into the sustaining of legacy equipment and field modifications. Results of this include lost-time injuries and illnesses, their associated costs, lack of compliance with regulatory requirements, and general inadequate service delivery.
This paper will propose a methodology for the practical involvement of ergonomics in mobile pumping and coiled-tubing equipment and operations as part of an overall Quality Management System.
Results of the implementation of this methodology on injuries and illnesses will only become apparent over time. Of course, several factors other than the equipment design come into play in injury and illness prevention. However, engineered solutions to the equipment will reduce the overall risk inherent in pressure pumping and coiled-tubing operations. Implementing a systematic involvement of ergonomic principles through the proposed methodology will identify what reasonable engineered solutions are available and should be implemented.
Empowering Employees—True Ownership of One's Health and Safety
Authors: Hinton Jack J. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Traditional Health and Safety Programs have been "top down". In such, employees rarely embrace their responsibility to be safe and protect their health. As a result, Best in Class safety performance is not achieved or maintained, and management is in continual odds with workers over safety and good practice. Empowering employees to own their health and safety is understood by HSE professionals, but rarely achieved and is the elusive dream. Baker Hughes has applied a novel approach that engaged employees with a "learn by doing and showing" model that took their health and safety performance from last in the enterprise to best in class. And, productivity, reliability and quality of the product line improved significantly through application of the approach. This approach is being used to maintain the leadership role of top safety performance. The methods of achieving employee ownership of health and safety are shown, with case in point before and after measures that demonstrate sustainable achievement of top safety performance.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Human Safety Behaviour Awareness
Authors: Hildebrandt D. , Van der Wilt F. M. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Incidents and accidents continue to occur in our business. Nonetheless, the follow-up and implementation of various recommendations from incident investigations and analyses have yielded tremendous results. Over the years, GDF Production Nederland B.V. and Gaz de France Produktion Exploration Deutschland GmbH (PEG), part of the Gaz de France Department of Exploration and Production has become significantly ‘safer'. However, despite the attention to this issue and the efforts over the years, the safety performance improvement results have been showing a declining trend. There seems to be a ‘glass ceiling’ that the methodology used to further reduce incidents can not break trough.
More or less simultaneously, and independent of each other, initiatives have been started both within GDF Production Nederland B.V. (GDF ProNed) and PEG to break through this ‘glass ceiling'. The aim? To increase safety awareness, for the purpose of achieving a significant decrease in the number of incidents and accidents.
The purpose of this paper is to share our practices with the industry and to provide feedback on our approach and the results via the 2008 SPE HSE Conference in Nice.
Arctic Bivalves as Indicators of Environmental Variation
Authors: Carroll Michael L. , Denisenko Stanislav G. , Voronkov Andrey , Ambrose William G. , Henkes Gregory C. , Bosheim Steingrim , Fredheim Bjørge , Gulbrandsen Trond R. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
The petroleum industry needs a basic understanding of the Arctic environment before starting exploration for hydrocarbons. In particular, understanding the magnitude and patterns of natural variability in biological populations will help gauge any potential effects of future oil and gas activities. The Arctic climate exhibits variability on several scales relevant for Arctic ecosystem processes, from seasonal changes to decadal oscillations, but the linkages to biological processes remain largely speculative, at least over longer time scales. Benthic communities may be valuable in determining the impacts of environmental variability on Arctic marine ecosystems because benthic fauna are stationary as adults and communities integrate environmental processes over long time periods. Marine bivalves, which are long-lived and comprise a large proportion of benthic communities in the Arctic, have great potential as proxies for environmental variability and concomitant biological responses. Bivalve shell growth has been shown to reflect changes in regional environmental parameters such as temperature and precipitation as well as food availability.
We analyzed growth rates of the circumpolar Greenland smooth cockle, Serripes groenlandicus based on external, annually-deposited growth lines, and linked growth patterns to decadal-scale environmental variations in the Norwegian-Russian Arctic area of the Barents Sea and Svalbard. The dataset of 53 individuals spanning 117 years from 1878-1995 from different regions of the Barents Sea, Svalbard and other locations in the Russian high-Arctic is comprised of samples from Russian Arctic expeditions from the archives of the Zoological Institute (Russian Academy of Science, St. Petersburg). Absolute growth rates differed among regions, reflecting differences in environmental conditions, but at all sites growth had an oscillatory patterns, with several years of higher growth followed by multiple years of poorer growth. Preliminary analyses of environmental control on ecosystem structure reveal that the growth rates of bivalves in the Pechora Sea are strongly and negatively correlated to the NAO, indicating mechanisms of bio-physical coupling in the region.
Haze Hazard and Emergency in the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Kumarasamy Devan , Karthikeyan Srinivasa 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
In Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia, haze is an annual problem that occurs from March through June and during September and October. The haze is caused mainly by fires in land clearing for cultivation activities, which seriously affect air quality and visibility in the region.
The scope of the presentation will cover the health effects and safety concerns, precautions to be observed, actions/counter measures and responsibilities during haze hazard and emergency situations in the oil and gas exploration & production (E&P) and downstream activities of PETRONAS, an integrated petroleum multinational corporation. With its headquarters in Malaysia, PETRONAS has business in more than 30 countries worldwide. In the Southeast Asian region, it has E&P and downstream petroleum and petrochemical operations in Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
During haze incidents, the Ministry of Health, Malaysia has monitored the disease trend and found a positive correlation between haze, air pollution indicators and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection and Bronchial Asthma.
In the paper, health effects caused by haze and precautionary health measures will be detailed out with corresponding reference to the Air Pollution Indicators.
Safety concerns in process areas (where catalysts, chemicals, absorbents and adsorbents are used) and with process equipment in E&P, refining, gas treating and petrochemical operations will be explained. Road safety of oil tankers transporting fuel and diesel, safety at sea, inland waterways and in ports and terminals during transportation of oil and gas and their products as well as aviation safety when transporting workers to remote offshore locations will also be discussed.
The paper will also highlight the control and mitigation measures, the action plan and counter measures undertaken by PETRONAS in managing haze hazard and emergency, including the results achieved in these efforts.
Health of Health Providers
Authors: Mehra Anil 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Health of the health providers is causing some concern all over the world. It has been noticed that doctors are reluctant to seek health care through usual mechanisms and find it difficult to adopt the role of patient. The consequences include self-prescription, working through illness, self-referral, and late presentations with serious problems. Doctors working in the oilfield industry are exposed to high risk of blood-borne pathogens, needle-stick injuries, back injuries, infections, latex allergy, and exposure to various chemicals, noise, and other work-related injuries. Lack of exercise and fitness program on an oil rig may lead to lifestyle diseases like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and other stress-related disorders. Smoking, abuse of drugs, alcohol misuse on days off, remote location, and isolation are some of the other issues that need consideration. In reality, influences such as conscientious efforts to provide service to patients, loyalty to company, managing proper medical protocols, and poor availability of social contacts may contribute to neglect of self. It has been recognized that ill health among doctors can affect professional judgment, decision, acumen, expertise, virtuosity, and performance. These medics must also keep in mind the well-being of workers with completely different job profiles; a difficult learning curve compared to a standard general practice. Issues can arise as many of the workers aboard oil-rig installations speak foreign languages, causing difficulties in efficiently understanding, diagnosing, and treating their medical problems.
There are managerial and company protocols that could improve the health of many medics, but these medics are no more immune from becoming ill than any other worker onboard. A comprehensive medical and psychological assessment before employment, as well as training in recognition and management of a doctor's own health problems is advocated.
Integrating Systems Approach in Accident & Incident Investigations
Authors: Unni Krishnan G. , Rajab Ameena 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Accident and incident investigations have become established procedures in the industry. These procedures have been applied with varying degree of success in many cases. The starting point of any investigation is the setting up of a committee, which is responsible for finding out how and why incidents happen. The committee uses a variety of techniques to understand the incident and attempts to reconstruct the event. The techniques include interviews with personnel, review of documentation/records, reports etc. Traditional investigations usually arrive at causes that are related to equipment, personnel or both.
However, recently published investigations go beyond the usual conclusions. Concepts like safety culture, organizational structure and employee empowerment figure prominently in these reports which normally do not find place in traditional investigations. Safety is an emergent property of a system and cannot be considered in isolation from the society and business environment in which it operates. Complexity of process systems and requirements from the society pose new challenges to process plant safety. Better understanding is required to meet these challenges. Naturally, investigations of any incident have to deal with these aspects. Recent case histories are evidence to this.
This paper will examine the basics of current investigative techniques. Further it will present the emerging research in systems theory and its application to socio-technical structures. It will outline how systems approach considers components and dynamics of their interrelationships as parts of a whole and potential for application to incident investigations.
In conclusion the paper will demonstrate that systems approach will be able to offer new insights on incident investigations and improve process safety management. To support the same reviews of investigations will be presented with systems approach methodology.
Multiple Barrier Thinking—A Road To A Proactive Culture
Authors: Steinsvik Dagfinn , Vegge Anne 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Multiple barriers thinking technique can reduce the risk of incidents occurring on a drilling rig. The objective of the technique is to improve the crew's ability to observe potential risks at the lowest possible level in the process of an incident developing. The ability to observe is developed through a "What if" mindset and a deeper understanding of barriers.
A review of several high potential incidents over the last years show that our highly developed procedures and advanced use of task risk assessment only gets us so far. There is a danger that comfort taken from these systems creates a perception that processes make the job safe. This feeling of comfort can lead to lack of attention. The multiple barriers thinking technique stimulates to a continuous awareness and learning culture among the crew in the daily work processes. It is a technique to avoid the feeling of comfort, lack of attention and complacency. Further, the technique drives a culture that makes safety everyone's responsibility.
This paper provides a detailed introduction to the multiple barriers thinking technique and further, how the technique is introduced and implemented with a drilling rig crew. A case study is provided to demonstrate the use of the technique, why this technique stimulates to a proactive learning culture and why the technique is accepted by the drilling rig crew.
Work-Related Disorders and Personal Injuries in the Norwegian Petroleum Industry: Achieving a Broader Picture by Combining Data Sources
Authors: Haugan Tommy , Størseth Fred , Lootz Elisabeth , Weggeberg Hanne , Zachariassen Sigvart 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
It is well known that some employee groups have a higher frequency of personal injuries and work-related disorders than others. The defining characteristics of these groups vary, but some of the important factors are: gender, age, work tasks, position, occupation, work environment, job security, the company's HSE policy and practice, and frame conditions (e.g. legislation, industrial relations, market demand, and contractual factors). The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) has launched a project to gather more information on the factors that cause some groups to be more vulnerable than others, and how these factors are interrelated. The aim of the current paper was to account for how these separate data sources are combined and applied in the effort to increase PSA's efficiency in supervision and knowledge of susceptible groups. To demonstrate this we used data on the occurrence of personal injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, and hearing loss in the petroleum offshore industry.
Energy Companies are Adopting Emerging Industry Best Practice: Integrated HSE Management Information Systems for Sustainability
Authors: McIntyre Don 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
A trend that has rapidly gained acceptance as a best practice among global oil and gas companies is to implement HSE management information systems (HSE MIS).
Oil and gas companies worldwide are discovering that the only practical way to achieve the ambitious requirements of an HSE MIS is to have an enabling technology platform - an integrated HSE MIS - to support corporate goals for environmental sustainability, corporate governance and social responsibility. A recent industry analyst report confirmed the trend, indicating that a majority of corporate managers are planning to invest in HSE MIS during the next two years.
The trend has been driven by increased public focus on climate change and global warming and new indices developed by leading financial analysts that evaluate HSE performance for institutional investors. Financial analysts and investors regard effective corporate governance, risk management and regulatory compliance (GRC), which includes regulatory compliance and environmental sustainability, as key indicators of a company's viability.
Organizational stakeholders have responded to this trend by assigning accountability for HSE matters to senior corporate managers. As a result, companies are increasingly moving toward centralized HSE management to ensure that HSE departments meet their compliance obligations. Organizations are adopting coordinated GRC strategies that guide staff resources, standardize processes and integrate technology into procedures designed to mitigate risks.
Effective HSE programs supporting corporate strategies rely on the analysis of huge volumes of information, metrics tracking, calculations, task tracking and reporting. This necessitates automated HSE information management systems.
An HSE MIS can span a wide range of functional capabilities including key performance indicator (KPI) tracking, compliance and deviation tracking, greenhouse gas (GHG)/carbon offset data management and reporting, incident tracking and root cause analysis, task management and tracking, multi-media emissions calculations and reporting, material safety data sheet management, industrial hygiene, emergency planning and response, training management and more.
Beyond Information: Using Social Marketing Techniques to Promote the Adoption of Protective Travel-Health Behaviors
Authors: Shallenberger L. G. , Buford D. L. , Douglas G. A. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Most corporations have a strong commitment to promoting and preserving personnel health and safety. Health and safety professionals continually develop and disseminate initiatives to educate and influence personnel but the health-promoting behaviors are often not adopted by the target populations or are not sustained over time. When risks are high for irreparable injuries and life-threatening diseases such as deep vein thrombosis and malaria, corporations may need to develop management control programs to enforce compliance with evidence-based methods of protection. Health concerns specifically associated with business travel are a relatively new focus of occupational health and particularly challenging for petroleum workers in developing countries and remote locations. We struggle to capture our workers’ attention and motivate them to adopt safe and healthful behaviors to avoid the risks of traveling, e.g., prolonged immobilization, exposure to communicable and tropical diseases and water and dietary issues, without overusing mandatory controls which are difficult to develop and enforce. We randomly selected a sample of the ~ 125,000 of our corporate bookings from Houston, Texas in the previous 6 months and asked the travelers to participate in focus groups. Concepts borrowed from social marketing, public health program diffusion and consumer information processing were used to test and evaluate the effectiveness of health risk communications. Lessons learned could be applied to health, safety and security communications. After collecting and analyzing data from standard questionnaires, hand-held ‘voting devices’ and open-ended discussions, we identified changes in the message content and methods of delivery that could increase the attentiveness, understandability and effectiveness of our health risk communications. Improved effectiveness of travel-health communications can strengthen individual incentives to further explore, understand and adopt preventive health behaviors.
Zero harmful impact from drilling discharges: Where are the limits?
Authors: Moltu U. E. , Pinturier L. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Total E&P Norge is an EMAS registered and ISO 14001 certified company. With a commitment to continuous improvement and minimizing footprint from activities, an internally defined zero harmful impact objective for the drilling of an exploration well in the Norwegian Sea was set. Deep water coral structuresi were identified in the vicinity of the well location driving the focus on potential physical impact in addition to chemical impacts on these structures and the sediment fauna.
To verify if the objective is met, the environmental impact level on the marine environment associated with the drilling activities has to be assessed and the effects verified. Three hole sections were discharged and the effects associated with these discharges were investigated. Cuttings size distribution, chemicals composition of the mud, and volume discharged were collected during the drilling of these sections. These data was applied in a risk modelling tool developed within the joint industry project ERMSii providing estimation of risk associated with drilling discharges on the sea floor and in the water column. This model is still under qualification/verification and the presented drilling operation represented an excellent case study where the output of the model in term of risk for particles and chemicals can be tested towards field observations. Sea floor observations were performed before, during and after drilling operation in order to evaluate the extent of the cuttings deposition and dispersion.
This paper discusses the risk associated with the chemicals and particles present in the mud, in the water column and in the sediment as estimated by the model. The cutting distribution simulated by the model is compared with observations of the sea floor. From these results and existing knowledge from monitoring and exposure studies, "zero harmful" impact level on sediment fauna, coral and water column is discussed. For the sediments impact from physical deposition and change in grain size were observed only in the close vicinity of the well. No chemical contamination could take place based on chemicals discharged and as modelled by the risk modelling tool. Impact to the water column was also considered insignificant and related to physical impact from particles in upper part of the water column and only in the close vicinity of the discharge. Also for the water column no chemical contamination could take place based on chemicals discharged and as confirmed by the risk modelling performed. The conclusion from this study is that the objective was met. The paper proposes that physical impact is considered acceptable within certain distance from the well bore location. The size for such an area should be decided upon based on a case by case evaluation depending upon the extent of the drilling activity and the area.