Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK – Oil & Gas UK (OGUK) is supporting the roll-out of a special protective face covering for personnel travelling to UK offshore installations.
The association describes this as a snood or buff, which is better suited to helicopter travel because it can be easily pulled away from the mouth if emergency breathing equipment is required.
It is also said to be more comfortable to wear than a face mask; communication is reportedly easier; and it eliminates the risk of FOD (Foreign Object Debris) damage caused by objects being sucked into a helicopter’s engine intakes.
OGUK has been working on use of the snood for the offshore workforce through its Pandemic Steering Group. It has been tested for surface and underwater escape purposes and has also been endorsed by the four helicopter companies providing aircraft adapted for the current environment.
Survitec, which is procuring supplies for use by the offshore industry at all helicopter departure locations, will manage the new process, with guidance on use of the snoods to be issued shortly by OGUK.
The association stressed that the snood is for use on the flight only, and is part of a range of measures designed to support the safety offshore workforce.
OGUK HSE director Trevor Stapleton said: “All workers travelling offshore will be issued with a protective snood following their routine temperature check at the heliport. The snood will then be worn in the heliport and for the duration of travel both to and from the installation only.
“They are single use and personnel will be issued with a new snood for each trip offshore.”
Other measures being adopted by the UK offshore industry, he continued, include robust checks prior to mobilization, temperature testing, and social distancing, staggered mealtimes, and where possible single-person cabin occupancy offshore.”
In a briefing earlier today, Stapleton added that Health Protection Scotland should also provide clarification shortly on how best to implement social distancing offshore.
The association hopes to go live with the snoods next week, pending the go-ahead from Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority, following planned meetings with the four helicopter providers.
04/23/2020
