Filling knowledge gaps in chemical exposure is high priority in the industry.  Over 140 participants from companies, governmental organisations, and unions converged to get oriented on the work conducted by the project, Chemical Health Risks in the Oil and Gas Industry.

“We are going to ensure our employees’ safety, far into the future,” said Gunnar Breivik, who heads the project’s management group.

Big Changes in HSE Work

Sigvart Zachariassen from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) emphasised that there have been big changes in HSE work from the Norwegian oil industry’s infancy in the 70’s to today.

“We have gone from an industry where HSE personnel were all but absent, to an industry with highly qualified field specialists.  The density of occupational hygienists, for example, is higher in the oil and gas industry than in any other industry, said Zachariassen.

He emphasised that work on chemical health risks is high priority for both the PSA and the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion.

“For the industry, this means doing more of the good work that has already been done,” he said.

Thorough Review

OLF’s project coordinator, Jon Efskind, presented the topics the project will address, and emphasised the importance of getting the whole industry to contribute.

The attendees at the seminar also heard presentations from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, medical experts, and good examples from individual companies.

The project springs from the PSA’s “Pilot Project – Chemical Working Environment Offshore”, completed June 1, 2007.  In a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion, Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, OLF assumed responsibility to procure an action plan to follow up the conclusions made in the report about the lack of knowledge of current chemical exposure.

The management group consists of the employer organisations, OLF, the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, and the Federation of Norwegian Industries, and the employee organisations, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), Lederne (an organisation for management, technology, and competency development), and SAFE (an energy union).

The project coordinator, Jon Efskind, will provide further information about the project, “Chemical Health Risks in the Oil and Gas Industry”, at the HSE Conference for Offshore Contractors, in Stavanger, May 27-28, 2008.

Article by: Kjetil Hjertvik, Communications Consultant, OLF, +47 92 23 70 69