Health Protection Scotland: Guidance for the Offshore Sector

Health Protection Scotland has produced Guidance setting out how helicopter companies, duty holders and medics can manage and prevent an outbreak of COVID-19 on oil and gas installations. The Guidance can be accessed here.

The 20 page document recognises the specific challenges currently faced by the oil and gas industry. It acknowledges that for this essential service to continue to function effectively, a risk assessment approach to managing COVID-19 is required. The two metre distancing rule recommended cannot always be applied with the same strictness during the operation of an offshore installation. An individual risk assessment must be made and measures taken to apply social distancing as much as is reasonably possible. Further, if a suspect case presents on an installation, it is not necessarily recommended that the whole installation goes into isolation. Instead, it is essential that the duty holder has in place appropriate measures and takes prompt action on identifying a suspected case.

The Guidance states that risk assessments should be considered in terms of:

• Risk of COVID-19 to the individual
• Risk of COVID-19 to others
• Risk of safe operation of Offshore Installations or helicopters

The Guidance notes that persons in vulnerable groups at increased risk from severe illness should generally not be employed offshore but should apply guidance on social isolation or shielding onshore.

For suspected cases arising during an offshore trip, where hospital admission is not required, isolation can take place onshore or on the offshore installation. However, where an individual with a mild or moderate case on an offshore installation is over 50 years of age or has underlying conditions then it is recommended they be transported to the mainland as soon as possible and not isolated offshore. Immediate medical evacuation (“medevac”) should be considered as mandatory where any suspect case requires hospitalisation. Careful monitoring and planning by the duty holder is therefore essential where a suspected case arises.

The Guidance considers the different issues arising where isolation is required and differentiates between low and high-risk workers. It is recognised that isolation of “close contacts” (i.e. there was contact at under 2 metres for more than 15 minutes) to a suspected case may lead to operational difficulties that render an installation unsafe. Where practicable, however, isolation of “higher risk” close contacts should be considered onshore. If that is not practicable then where a close contact is high risk then they should be placed under active monitoring. Isolation of “lower risk” close contacts is NOT generally necessary or recommended where reasonable hand / respiratory hygiene and social distancing measures have been implemented. Such lower risk close contacts should be placed under passive monitoring.

The risks addressed in the guidance are considered as follows:

• Routine transport of persons to an Offshore Installation from onshore
• Routine activity on the Offshore Installation
• Routine transport of persons onshore from an Offshore Installation

Step by step guides are provided under each heading to assist duty holders in taking the correct actions in the various scenarios arising.

The Guidance recognises the challenge the oil and gas industry faces. Like all employers, duty holders are required, so far as reasonably practicable, to prevent occupational exposure to COVID -19. For this industry, that requirement goes beyond the measures imposed in a typical workplace. Key measures that are required may be similar to other industries but have heightened importance: the provision of clear guidance to the workforce; the implementation and monitoring of effective processes for managing suspected cases; the availability of PPE to those who need it; and carefully thought out plans drawn up for suspected cases.

In addressing the risk of COVID-19 infection, duty holders and employers must also assess how any related risk management might affect the continuing safety of operations. COVID-19 risks cannot be considered in isolation. Duty holders have the difficult balancing act of continuing to operate in challenging circumstances. Accidents happen where a workforce is distracted, and management of the risks associated with COVID-19 cannot detract from the inherent dangers of offshore operations.