Integration of Health Risk Management Techniques to Address Increasing Numbers and Prevention of Non-Accident Deaths NAD in Oil & Gas Operations

Abstract

Over the last decade, Oil & Gas operations have come under tremendous pressures due to increasing production demands and venturing into harsher environmental conditions, increasing the health risks to crew with underlying medical conditions. Although there are strict medical fitness, requirements in place to reduce the vulnerability of crewmembers, increasing number Non Accidental Deaths (NAD) have challenged the Oil & Gas operations. NAD risks are often linked with medical assessment/fitness to work, training and medical emergency response, NAD questions the adequacy of management controls at work locations, especially in remote locations. ADNOC Group Companies adopt very HSE high standards to protect the workers, environment and assets; however, the risks of aggravating underlying medical conditions, illnesses or disorders often materialize and result in NADs. An extended analysis of over historical NAD events was performed and strengths of NAD barriers (Tayab et al, 2012) was assessed. Based on the review NAD Barriers were further redefined as follow:Adequacy of pre-employment medical assessmentAlert of underlying medical conditionsFollow up on chronic medical conditionsAlert for abnormal behavioursAwareness & Training It was found that over 70% of NAD cases were triggered due to aggravation of chronic illnesses, approximately 50 % of NAD cases were triggered during the first year of employment, 77% of NAD cases were due to cardiovascular illnesses and 18% were due to suicides and 13% were attributed to COVID & other factors. Additional NAD barriers were identified to update the barrier analysis as follows:Alert for abnormal behaviorReadiness to manage Medical EmergenciesWelfare & Counselling