Tea Shack News Rebooted - April 2024

TEA SHACK NEWS

WORKFORCE ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT TEAM

REBOOTED WEST ISSUE

LIFE AFTER AN ACCIDENT

An interview with Paul Blanchard

Paul Blanchard worked in the construction industry for nearly 40 years; 25 of those successfully running his own building business, largely developing and renovating properties. On Sunday 18 July 2010, whilst working on a roof at a farm, Paul fell from a height of 12ft. Suffering lifethreatening injuries, he spent three months in a medically induced coma and six months in hospital. The accident left him paralysed and he now relies on a wheelchair.

Now a professional Motivational and Behavioural Speaker, Paul delivered an honest and thought-provoking account of his ‘Life After an Accident’ at our Safety Rep Forum (see page 6 for more information on the event). He spoke not only about the incident but, more significantly, about the consequences; and how it affected him physically, mentally and financially. And how his accident affected his family. Paul gave a deeply personal account of his story, talking openly about the incident, the realisation of how much his life had changed and his determination to adapt.

“I went from 6’ 2” to 4’ 4” overnight. There was physical and financial pressure put on my family and friends, taking on the responsibilities that I could no

In one year 2022/23...

longer do – something as simple as walking our dog, or taking the bins out.”

Paul’s drive and motivation to keep others safe across all industries is inspiring, focusing on the emotional perspective of Health & Safety and the empowerment of the workforce to take responsibility for both their own safety and that of their colleagues.

“Always come back to the risk assessment, do the analysis. If you think this doesn’t feel or look right, say ‘No’. Don’t be intimated, whether that’s by a customer, your boss or peer pressure. If you’re not comfortable, don’t go ahead. Put boundaries on your own wellbeing, if you feel that there’s a potential risk to yourself or your colleagues.”

Paul delivers over 20 presentations throughout the year to some of the largest construction, energy and industrial companies in the UK. He collaborates with employers, managers and experts to foster a positive and open safety culture, that sees the benefits of encouraging near-miss reporting (which Paul refers to as “near-hits” reporting), sharing safety performance, thorough pre-job and on-the job planning, as well as training and competence.

40 5,000

Our audience was captivated from start to finish, and the take-away message was clear to everyone: look after yourself and look after others, because safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Paul Blanchard is an Ambassador for No Falls Foundation and RoSPA. He was presented with a RoSPA Guardian Angel Award in 2015.

Find out more about Paul’s work and his story:

Behavioural Safety Training; Paul Blanchard: Life After an Accident

No Falls Foundation

... after falling from a height at their workplace people lost their lives people were left injured

Quarterly Themes

HOW TO SLEEP SMARTER

The main things about going to sleep is YOU NEED TO SWITCH OFF!

• Enhance awareness of personal hazards and the potential for personal injuries

• Enhance awareness of personal hazards and the potential for personal injuries

• Reinforce the hierarchy of control in reducing personal risk

• Reinforce the hierarchy of control in reducing personal risk

• Understand how your decisions affect the risk of personal injuries

• Understand how your decisions affect the risk of personal injuries

• Improve hazard awareness of routine lifting tasks and their potential to cause a major accident

• Improve hazard awareness of routine lifting tasks and their potential to cause a major accident

• Identify and manage hazards related to working at height

• Identify and manage hazards related to working at height

We train our children to have a bedtime routine; brush teeth, change into jammies, quiet time with a story. But somewhere along the way we have lost that for ourselves and we become all the things we predict our children will be without their routine; moody, tired and don’t want to get up. But did you know, the better your routine to switch off, the better you are at waking up. So, let’s get you a routine.

• Increase awareness of potential dropped objects and their effects

• Increase awareness of potential dropped objects and their effects

DATES

Cook, Purely Balanced

to make our sector the safest place to work by preventing predictable incidents recognise accidents

Our mini-series on sleep By Emma

There are some other things to be mindful of:

• Improve understanding of physical and mental wellbeing

• Improve understanding of physical and mental wellbeing

• Increase awareness of environmental health impacts

• A cool room helps your body temperature regulate which helps you switch off to a deeper sleep state.

• Increase awareness of environmental health impacts

• Improve communication and better understand your colleagues

• Improve communication and better understand your colleagues

FOR YOUR DIARY:

1. Open your posture – an open body is a relaxed body.

• Be mindful of electronic devices – the blue light on a device signals to the brain to produce cortisol, the wake-up hormone. So turn blue lights to orange for evenings, in the night settings on your device.

Email: info@stepchangeinsafety.net Web: stepchangeinsafety.net #playyourpart

Human Factors - Leadership & Behavioural Safety Forum

Thursday 16 May 2024

09:00-11:30

Annan House

33-35 Palmerston Road

Aberdeen

Sunday Safety Session

Q2: Prevention of Personal Injury

Sunday 30 June 15:00-15:45

Online Event

2. Position a pillow – under the knees for back sleepers, between your knees for side sleepers, or under your hips for stomach sleepers.

3. Breathe down into your lower stomach promoting relaxation, taking deeper longer breaths

4. Wear an eye mask to promote a deeper sleep. Complete darkness over the eyes signals to the brain to produce melatonin, the sleep hormone.

5. Count backwards, 250,249… this helps the subconscious switch off.

• Try not to eat for at least 2hrs before you go to bed to achieve a deeper quality sleep. If you eat then sleep, you digest not rest.

• Our energy may dip after midday and this is when we reach for a coffee or an energy bar. What you are feeling is your wake-up hormone depleting and your sleep hormone increasing. One way to help is to drink 2 glasses of water when you start to feel tired. This not only helps you to feel more alert, it will save you drinking more caffeine which affects your sleep later on.

See the next issue of Tea Shack News for “What to do if you can’t sleep”.

Email: editor@teashack.news www.stepchangeinsafety.net/teashack-news #playyourpart

BIG PERSONS OFFSHORE

The general concept of “big persons” offshore isn’t new. Those of you who have been in the offshore industry for a long time will remember the “big persons in lifeboats” issue from 2008, which was our first real look at significant changes in the offshore population.

As far back as 2005, it was recognised that offshore workers were becoming physically larger than average. This isn’t just a “weight” issue: it is also a physical “size” issue. This led various regulators (HSE, CAA, MCA) to look at the potential implications this may have for safety. One of the first, more obvious issues to be looked at offshore was the implications for lifeboat safety. Davit-launched lifeboats are typically designed and built to SOLAS standards. This is based on an average weight of a lifeboat occupant of 75kg (although this was later revised to 82.5kg by the International Maritime Organisation, in 2010). However, when the British offshore population was measured it showed that the average worker weighed 98kg (this included a 5kg allowance for immersion suits and lifejackets). You may remember that a direct result of this was a reduction in lifeboat capacities to ensure that their maximum loading limits would not be exceeded – for some design elements of lifeboats there is 100kg/person design load-limit.

Since then, it had been noticed that the size and weight of offshore workers appeared to be growing, still. This prompted a further look at this issue, which revealed that the average weight of an offshore worker is now 97kg (without an immersion suit or lifejacket). However, an estimated 36% of the offshore workforce exceeds 100kg, with about 5% of the offshore

workforce estimated to weigh in excess of 125kg. Some recent HSE offshore inspections have highlighted issues with lifeboat loading capacities and with taller/broader workers unable to secure themselves into lifeboats.

In a wider context, this may also affect things such as: helicopter evacuation, escape systems, rescue & recovery arrangements, and general offshore operations. Dutyholders must ensure that offshore workers are not put at any increased risk, and that any bigger persons do not also put others at risk. Following a recent OEUK HAZID Forum, some immediate, medium and longerterm solutions have been proposed to manage this.

A first step would be to ensure that all equipment provided (and used) for emergencies remain fit-for-purpose - for all users. This would include an immediate look at lifeboat (and liferaft) loading capacities, immersion-suit sizes, personal descender devices –along with other life-saving appliances (LSAs), to ensure that arrangements for

evacuation and escape remain effective. Dutyholders should also review HSE OIS 12/2008 (Big Persons in Lifeboats): the general principles and expectations of this document remain valid.

HSE will continue to work closely with OEUK, who will be looking at the potential impact on other issues such as: casualty-handling, helicopter winching-operations, safe-loading of steel/GRP gratings, general fitness requirements, etc.

Inspectors from HSE’s Offshore Emergency Response Team will continue to monitor the industry’s response to the recommendations made in OEUK’s Report on the Hazards Related to Weight, Size and Shape of Offshore Oil & Gas Workers (2023).

Safety Observations:

It’s Not

a Numbers Game

Safety observation cards are an important tool. They allow the workforce to play their part by raising safety concerns and highlighting good practice, enabling operators and employers to act on them.

The Tea Shack News team caught up with e-obs member user Stuart Stronach, Offshore HES Advisor at Ithaca Energy, who shares his experience of the system and its key benefits.

Originally a PhD Chemist, Stuart has been employed by Ithaca Energy since its 2019. Stuart was previously with Chevron as a contractor from 2003, then staff from 2005. He is on a two and three rota on the FPF-1supporting the Greater Stella Area and loves being close to the coalface where everything is happening.

Here’s what Stuart had to share about his experience with the e-obs system:

What system was already in place and what made Ithaca decide to change?

On Ithaca’s Alba, Captain and Erskine assets, we were using the Chevron heritage behavioural safety observation system, called POWER.

The POWER system was focused on behavioural safety. There was also a Substandard card for reporting conditions, but the two systems didn’t mesh very well so we knew very early on that we needed something new. Looking around at what was available, the FPF-1 was using the old paper-based Step Change in Safety

observation tool, which e-obs is based on.

While the e-obs tool was still under development, we started discussions with SCiS to learn and understand more about the new system. We learned that it was going to be an industry-wide tool, not only available for Operators and their assets but also for vendors to be looking across all the different Operators’ assets where they have people working.

This sounded like a great idea. It was also free, internet-based and there were so many things that made e-obs stand out that it was the obvious system to go for.

We made the decision to adopt it, engaged with the organisation (Ithaca) and with the OIMs and got them on board.

Implementation:

What was your role?

I was given the job of coordinating it all and, because I was working on the FPF1 and they were using the paper-based system already, it made sense to trial e-obs on the FPF-1 first.

We went live in October 2021 and within a couple of months, it was working very nicely. We then rolled it out across the other assets with no challenges or difficulties.

We implemented e-obs across:

• Captain WPP and FPSO

• Alba Northern Platform and FSU

• FPF-1

• Erskine NUI

The fact that it’s an internet-based system means that there are no infrastructure challenges. If you have internet access then you can log in on using a laptop, desktop, tablet, or mobile phone.

What are the benefits and positives for Ithaca?

A key benefit for us, coming from a two-fold system before, is that with e-obs everything goes into one reporting tool, whether the card relates to behavioural safety, ie conversations, interactions, etc or safety observations and conditions. This makes management of the system a whole lot easier and more efficient.

Its also a tool that is used by operators, so implementing made sense for transient workforce to gain valuable feedback.

How has it affected internal engagement, culture and behaviour?

As a card reviewer, I always make a point to ensure that I include the person’s name when I provide feedback to personalise the response and make

Confined Space: Shared Learnings Stopping the Job

A Scaffolder, newly onboard FPF-1 was erecting scaffolding around some of our vessels in preparation for confined space entry as part of our upcoming TAR. He’d seen elsewhere in the North Sea that scaffolding outside the access point had to be made big enough for stretchers, in case of emergency. Ours weren’t big enough for that, so he raised this through an e-obs submission. The scaffold was stripped and rebuilt – all because of this brilliant observation.

This is a powerful example of shared learnings and best practice.

that individual feel that they have been heard and listened to.

On the FPF-1, we select a ‘Card of the Day’ where someone gets a bar of Marabou for the best card which encourages some healthy competition onboard. It’s a subjective process, of course, but it’s seen as a bit of motivation and fun.

Participation levels vary from day to day – sometimes there can be 20 submissions, sometimes 4 or 5, but there are almost always good quality cards from a POB of +/- 80.

However, this isn’t a numbers game, we really focus on quality over quantity, as the two featured submissions demonstrate. I’m delighted with the standard of cards we receive.

Something I’ve noticed compared to the POWER system is that we now see more quality observations, rather than reporting for the sake of reporting.

I don’t believe we would get that standard of participation if the guys didn’t feel there was value in the tool and that it was worth putting forward submissions.

All assets are seeing good levels of participation and quality of submissions.

What do you think made the adoption and implementation of e-obs a success for Ithaca?

Another Scaffolder stopped the job after realising the scaffolding they were erecting was blocking a deluge around one of the vessels. He had previously attended a platform Safety Meeting where the Q1 2024 SCiS theme of Major Accident Hazards had been shown, and the audience challenged to think about what they personally could do to minimise the chances or consequences of a process safety incident.

Again, another great example of listening, safety meeting information being absorbed and applied in practice. Most importantly, feeling empowered to stop the job.

The workforce sees that if a submission is made, it’s acted upon. It’s not a data black hole where nothing is done with the cards raised.

From immediate actions such as repairs, to system improvement suggestions, to behavioural safety issues - we can focus on relevant and key themes. The submissions are acted upon and, I hope, shows that the system is credible.

Do you feel the system helps to facilitate the feedback, review and improvement process within Ithaca?

Absolutely. On the FPF-1, at the end of each day we produce a summary sheet for the supervisors for their next morning shift brief. We summarise all the observations for the day, we pick out the ‘Card of the Day’ and we can also identify learnings and topical safety trends or themes from the card submissions. For example, we can talk about weak signals and tie that back into process safety fundamentals. It all goes back to the culture on the platform and of the organisation - this is how we do safety.

How has the e-obs focal point role within e-obs Community of Practice Group helped?

One of the key benefits I’ve found is that user feedback is heard, considered and implemented where appropriate by Step Change in Safety. There have

been a few changes made to the e-obs tool since we adopted it, that we’ve specifically asked for, based on our user experiences. We also value the feedback from other operators.

Any advice to existing or new SCiS members considering implementing the e-obs system?

It’s a really good system and it’s freely available.

It’s internet-based and user accounts are managed by SCiS, so there is no need to have a dedicated organisation email address or profile and it allows for behaviours, conversations, and conditions all to be captured.

If the feedback loop is used properly then it does help build a self-sustaining safety culture that is continuously improved.

The e-obs Community of Practice (COP) calls - held online and face to face - mean that users have input, suggestions are listened to, and it’s an ever-evolving vehicle.

It’s been a very positive experience for Ithaca to be involved in and we are looking forward to seeing what’s next in e-obs. We have a say in how the system is shaped and Aimie Clark, Programme Delivery Manager and e-obs focal point, is great at fostering that!

PROCESS SAFETY WORKFORCE SURVEY OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES

We have officially launched our Process Safety Workforce Survey to the energy industry workforce, in partnership with Empirisys. This launched at our annual Safety Rep Forum on 18th April which saw over 100 people attend at the city’s Union Kirk.

The survey examines the eight Principles of Process Safety Leadership and follows on from our 2023 Process Safety Leadership Survey, which received responses from more than 450 senior leaders from 73 companies.

As part of our 2024 plan and commitment to improving safety across the sector, and our intention to build on last year’s survey, we now want to hear from YOU - our workforce.

We are asking you to play your part by committing to undertaking the survey,

in partnership with

enabling your leadership teams to identify where improvements in process safety leadership can be made across your organisations and industry.

Craig Wiggins, Executive Director for Step Change in Safety says, “Our ask of the energy industry workforce is that they take the time to complete this survey which takes less than 15 minutes. The results of these individual surveys will give organisations a better indication of how their workforce understands and values process safety, a strong leading indicator of Major Accident prevention. Additionally, the combined industry data will allow Step Change in Safety to direct its future work.”

The survey is now open for 9 weeks and will close on 17th of June 2024

Step Change in Safety member organisations will be emailed with a survey link but can also take part by emailing gillian@stepchangeinsafety.net

Please also utilise our Process Safety Workforce Survey pull-out poster in this edition which can be used in communal areas.

What is Process Safety?

Simply put, it’s about keeping hazardous chemicals in the pipe.

Why is it important?

44% of all fatalities in the oil & gas industry are due to process safety events.

(Data source: IOGP members worldwide 2007-2017)

BI-ANNUAL SAFETY REP FORUM

We welcomed over 100 attendees to our 1st bi-annual Safety Rep Forum of the year at Aberdeen’s Union Kirk - a fantastic turnout and thank you to all who attended. Encouraging and motivating to see our members taking the time to meet other safety reps, make connections and share experiences. Thank you to all our speakers for their time and for playing their part, including:

Key note speaker Paul Blanchard who delivered an honest and thoughtprovoking account of ‘Life After an Accident’

Email: editor@teashack.news

David Jamieson C.ErgHF & Dr. Jared Dempsey (Industrial Psychologist) - our Human Factor Workgroup Chairs who delivered a workshop on ‘Helping to Harness the Human Factor in Toolbox Talks’

MaryAnn Rae who shared information on the launch of our Process Safety Workforce Survey with Empirisys

Esuala Armstrong of the Health and Safety Executive

Our Major Accident Hazard Understanding Work Group for their workshop on ‘Barriers in Bowties’ Fiona FitzGerald & Gillian Ewan

Our WEST group for their Workforce Engagement Support Team update

Gillian Ewan & Nicola Taylor for delivering our quiz

Peter Hepburn & Stuart Watson (WEST group co-chairs)

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR NEXT SAFETY REP FORUM

Tues 24th September Union Kirk in Aberdeen Book your FREE place here: https://lnkd.in/duuFRXd

OFFSHORE NESTING BIRD CENSUS 2024

The ‘Offshore Nesting Bird Census 2024’ has been launched by OEUK, in collaboration with Xodus. The purpose of this initiative is to encourage the whole energy industry to work more collaboratively. Through participation and knowledge sharing, everyone benefits!

Offshore assets, whether for oil and gas extraction or wind energy, serve as unique habitats for various bird species. There has, so far, been little research or attention on the positive and negative impacts associated with birds utilising offshore platforms as a breeding site. This census will give us the opportunity to better understand this interaction.

Who can take part?

Anyone who works offshore, in any role, for any company.

When can I take part?

We need to ensure that those completing the census understand what is needed.

CROSSWORD

8th May 12:00 – 12:45

Virtual Q&A session in collaboration with the E-Reps Network For anyone who would like to find out more about ONBC 24. Sign up here!

30th May 10:00 – 12:00

Virtual Bird ID Training workshop A must for those who would like to participate in the survey. Please register your interest here https://ow.ly/Ny0850R4SqO

Recordings of both sessions can be made available for those who have registered interest but are unable to attend.

Whether you’ve always dreamed of being an expert bird spotter or you’re just happy to help us understand the behaviour of offshore nesting birds, please sign up and / or share this with as many people in your offshore network as possible!

Across

3. ______ Awareness, being alert to your surroundings

5. In harm’s way, lifesaving rule (4, 2, 4)

6. Live Risk Assessment process

8. Q2 SCiS theme - Prevention of Personal _____ 9. _______ protective equipment, for your airways 10. The last line of defence (abbr.)

11. Slips, Trips and _____ - most common cause of personal injury Down

1. Life Saving _____

2. Handling type reliant on human effort

4. Hierarchy of ______, ranking of effective risk reduction

6. _____ Objects, personal injury cause

7. Manual Handling acronym (Task, Individual, Load, Environment)

SUDOKU

Perfect for spicing up your next safety meeting or firing up some of your 86 billion brain neurons. Dive into our 10 Quick Questions Quiz, designed to challenge safety gurus or refreshers.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ

1. What was the name of the ship that brought news of the Battle of Trafalgar to Britain?

2. What Was The First Movie To Be Rated PG-13?

3. Vanilla comes from what flowers?

4. Which country invented gin?

5. Aduki, borlotti and cannellini are types of what?

6. The Needles off the western tip of the Isle of Wight are an example of what type of geographical feature?

7. Which technique did Vincent van Gogh use to paint his “Sunflowers”?

8. Name the composer behind the soundtracks of The Lion King, Inception and Pirates of the Caribbean.

9. Who said this famous quote: ‘If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best’?

10. How did Roxy and Ronnie die in Eastenders?

11. The letterbox of 10 Downing Street in London has an inscription that reads”First Lord of…” what?

12. In ‘Only Fools and Horses’, by what name did Trigger always call Rodney?

13. How many fingers do Simpsons characters have?

14. Arctic Monkeys took the indie scene by storm in 2005 with the now classic ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’ - but what’s the first line of the song?

15. What is the name of the Greek dip consisting of yoghurt and cucumber?

16. Which is the only venomous snake native to the UK?

17. Which animal name means river horse?

18. In which English county is the town of Stevenage?

19. To the tip - how tall is the Eiffel Tower?

20. What is David Schwimmer’s character in Friends called?

Answers to the general knowledge quiz can be found by clicking this link or view at the bottom of this page, no cheating!