In the final yr, the Covid-19 pandemic has elevated the dangers of working in what was already one among the most hostile environments on Earth. But, with the first anniversary of the outbreak not lengthy in our collective rear-view mirrors, offshore employees in the North Sea are dealing with a twin risk: rising new variants of the virus and growing Covid-fatigue and complacency.
The UK offshore business has achieved an enviable security report throughout the pandemic, due in massive measure to the widespread testing of offshore employees earlier than mobilisation. Such pre-mobilisation testing of over 130,000 people in the UK has helped to successfully management transmission offshore over the final ten months.
However, we have now all the time recognised that widespread testing, whereas essential, is just not a magic bullet and have to be mixed with different strict precautions. Such considerations have taken on a renewed urgency since the New Year, with quite a lot of instances of Covid-19 being recorded on offshore platforms in January and early-February.
This spike corresponds to the emergence of the new variant viruses – together with the Kent, South African and Brazilian strains – related to elevated unfold in the group. As a outcome, we’re transferring in direction of a containment section of the pandemic in the offshore business, in distinction to a purely preventative section final yr.
This is significant to maintain hundreds of offshore employees secure and to make sure the safety of the UK’s power provide. The horrifying experiences at Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil firm, the place greater than 450 employees have died from the virus since final March, brings residence to us the significance of those measures to guard our key power employees.
The newest Scottish and UK Government well being campaigns are warning towards complacency and ‘twisting the rules’ as the public begins to undergo from so-known as Covid-fatigue. The World Health Organisation (WHO) even defines Covid-fatigue clinically as “demotivation to engage in protection behaviours and seek Covid-19-related information, and as complacency, alienation and hopelessness”.
Over a yr into the pandemic, such emotions of burnout in the face of continuous restrictions and precautions are pure, however they’re additionally of nice concern, given the rise in offshore infections.
However, as an business, we are able to minimise the well being dangers by following 5 finest apply tips round testing:
Get examined: That looks like apparent frequent sense, and at the moment 90% of UKCS operators do undertake pre-mobilisation testing. However, it has been confirmed that the largest outbreak occurred on a platform whose operator didn’t have a coverage of testing employees for Covid-19 earlier than they had been transported to the offshore set up. It’s additionally essential to make sure that crew members await the outcomes of their exams earlier than mobilising; there have been instances of employees travelling to heliports earlier than they’ve acquired the all-clear.
Understand the limits of testing: While testing is an important and extremely efficient contributor to offshore virus protection, it isn’t idiot proof. We have all the time mentioned that testing have to be seen as a key a part of a wider danger technique. The greatest concern is fake detrimental outcomes and that is doubtlessly of even higher significance with the emergence of recent strains of the virus which might be tough to detect with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing. This emphasises the proven fact that testing can’t be a stand-alone technique. Indeed, that’s why we fastidiously monitor all exams to establish and spotlight irregular patterns.
Stay in your bubble: Remember detrimental check is just not the similar as immunity. There is a good danger of submit-check an infection if particular person employees enter a non-Covid safe setting after testing, however earlier than mobilisation. Returning residence or going again to the lodge in the occasion of delayed flights, for instance, opens the particular person as much as catching a extremely opportunistic and infectious virus.
Beware in-transit transmission: Squeeze factors, equivalent to heliports, by way of which many employees move, can lead to virus transmission from handrails, doorways and different surfaces. That’s why private hygiene – handwashing, sanitising, face coverings – and rigorous and common disinfection/deep cleansing of premises is crucial.
Keep vigilant in the offshore setting: The offshore operators actually stepped as much as the well being and security problem at the begin of the pandemic. Manning ranges had been reduce, similar-shift cabin sharing was ended, and social distancing was enforced. However, as useful resource and work ranges get well, it will likely be extra essential than ever to take care of rigorous controls, report any signs according to worksite protocols, and keep away from complacency.
Sticking rigidly to all these good habits like temperature-checking, testing, washing fingers, sanitising, and sporting face coverings as required could also be irritating, however are doubtlessly lifesaving.
The roll-out of the UK’s vaccine programme is drastically encouraging however we have to be particularly cautious to not let our guard down. The business has completed a wonderful job of preserving instances and transmission to a minimal. Testing stays very important however it might’t do all the heavy lifting by itself. By staying conscious and staying vigilant we will help our key power employees keep secure offshore.
Ken is scientific director of the TAC Healthcare Group, which is offering Covid testing to the oil and fuel business from its base in Aberdeen and centres all through the UK.
