Iain Campbell has long been interested in photography’s relationship with heavy industry. For several years, while working as a freelance photographer, he focused his attention on deindustrialisation— the end of industry. He was drawn to the question: what happens to the workforce, the machinery, the buildings, and the landscape once industry disappears?
Frustrated with pursuing the remnants of industries past, Iain fortuitously turned his focus in 2013 toward documenting the offshore oil and gas sector—what he views as the UK’s last remaining heavy industry, and perhaps the most elusive and least represented photographically.
Continued overleaf...
Continued from cover...
With no direct ties to the industry, Iain knew that accessing this world would not be easy. It demanded an imaginative and deliberate approach. Choosing what he believed to be the more adventurous path, he set out to work offshore. He completed his BOSIET and MIST training in Aberdeen and, after ten months of persistence and resourcefulness,
secured a core-crew position as a steward on a drilling rig in the central North Sea.
For three years, that rig became his second home—and, more importantly, the foundation for a photographic project and personal journey that continues to this day.
• 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
• Increase awareness of potential dropped objects and their effects
Q3: Human Factors Quarterly Forum 11 September, 9:00 – 11:30 4th Floor, Annan House, Aberdeen
2-day Safety Leadership Development Programme 16-17 September, 9-10 December Palm Court, Aberdeen
Lifting Forum
17 September, 0900-1130 4th Floor, Annan House, Aberdeen
Lunch & Learn – Q3 Theme
23 September, 12:00 – 13:15 4th Floor, Annan House, Aberdeen
Continuous Improvement
Supporting Safety Leadership
Training 29 October, 17 December (venue tbc)
• Improve understanding of physical and mental wellbeing
• Increase awareness of environmental health impacts
• Increase awareness of environmental health impacts
• Improve communication and better understand your colleagues
• Improve communication and better understand your colleagues
• Increase awareness of potential dropped objects and their effects • Improve understanding of physical and mental wellbeing
www.peteriaincampbell.co.uk
www.peteriaincampbell.co.uk
WORKING TOGETHER FOR SAFER LIFTING OFFSHORE
On 21–22 May, key personnel from across our offshore teams came together for a focused two-day Lifting Event. The sessions brought lifting supervisors, coordinators, and worksite leaders into one room to share ideas, challenges, and solutions around safe lifting practices.
The event focused on updating and improving the Lifting & Mechanical Handling Guidelines, with input directly from those doing the work. Through presentations and hands-on workshops, participants explored:
3 Better induction processes for lifting personnel
3 Competence management and on-the-job development
3 Effective supervision and the role of human factors in lifting operations
This collaboration ensures our tools and guidance reflect real-world needs and keep safety at the heart of every lift.
A big thank you to our facilitators and speakers (photographed above) for steering productive discussions and helping shape the future of lifting operations across the industry.
THANK
JUST CARE
About Dropped Objects
Is it hanging? Will it stay? Will it drop? Come my way?
Is it safe? Made secure? Why’s it there? I’m not sure.
Will I hear it if it drops? How will it land? When it stops.
Will I leave it, hanging there? Does it matter, do I care?
Is it needed at a height? Can I move it to eyesight?
Out of danger, come what may, Safety First, pave the way.
Objects dropped from way up high, can kill or maim, maybe I.
If in doubt, make aware –Make it safe, show you care!! STOP THE DRO P
Email: info@stepchangeinsafety.net
Left to Right: Alan McIntyre (SCiS), Trevor Gregg (HSE), Chris Stuart (EnQuest), Chris Woods (Karrdale), Colin Duncan (Harbour, Lifting WG Co-Chair), Lee Chapman (Ithaca, Lifting WG), Scott Moffatt (Why Human Factors), Craig Wiggins (SCiS), Stuart Smith (Wood) not in photo
THE WEDNESDAY
B I S C U I T CLUB
My name is Joel Devine and I work on the Culzean Platform for Oceaneering as an offshore inspection engineer.
Without doubt the Culzean platform has the best facilities I have ever encountered in my 22 years in the North Sea one of which is the single person cabins. This however reminded me of a time in my life when I was going through a hard time and the loneliness and isolation I felt when I was offshore was crippling. Spending 12 hours alone in a cabin, with nothing but your own brain for company when going through a period of anxiety, depression, stress or similar can be a dangerous place to be and can often lead to sleepless nights, not a situation you want to be in when the following 12 hours are spent working in a high risk environment.
In light of this I wanted to create something of an evening, after shift, where people could meet, talk about things what matter and, just like a pressure release valve, release some pressure.
Now the magic of biscuit club is the actual biscuits, they are not your standard ‘offshore’ biscuits. Oh no, these are quality ‘onshore’ biscuits, brought out each trip in my ever expanding bag! We talk about anything and everything. The common misconception is that it’s a gang of men sat around a table taking turns to speak and in tears, but it’s the opposite. It’s belly laughs and conversations from the moon landings to the price of cheese!
We do talk about things that affect us all too though, the cost of living, our
REAL DECISIONS, REAL IMPACT: ELECTED
SAFETYREP
KICKING OFF
2025
WITH A STANDOUT SAFETY REPS FORUM
Our first Safety Rep Forum of the year brought together a vibrant community of Safety Reps, industry leaders, and subject matter experts for a powerful day of learning, collaboration, and frontline insight.
One of the most powerful moments was the live incident scenario, delivered by Ethos Empowerment. Through an actor-led performance, attendees were asked to step into
“anyone is welcome, the biscuits are free and you are not alone”
children, dealing with teenagers, the pressures of working away from home, what is happening around the world and every now and then someone will talk about something that is happening in their lives and then they can find that something similar has happened to someone else, they then share their experience and on the conversation goes.
There is no rank or title at biscuit club and absolutely anyone is welcome, its just a collection of random offshore workers all trying to navigate life as best as possible. The message is clear, anyone is welcome, the biscuits are free and you are not alone.
You can get in touch with Joel through LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joel-d-60296a82/
the moment and consider: what would you do differently to change the outcome? It was thought-provoking, challenging, and something that stayed with many long after the session ended.
We’re already looking ahead to our next Safety Reps Forum on 8 October - in which, we’ll carry the inspiration, and lessons from April.
COACHING TOOLBOX TALKS FOR IMPACT
Article by Ethos Empowerment
Toolbox Talks (TBTs), also known as Pre-task Briefs, are a key safety step for a work party.
The Step Change in Safety Toolbox Talk form is widely used across industry and encourages the work party to consider the task, the individuals’ responsibilities, the hazards and controls, how might people get hurt, what the key hold points are, and what might trigger the job being stopped.
However, delivering an effective TBT is a skill. At the recent Safety Rep event hosted by Step Change in Safety, Ethos Empowerment delivered a dynamic coaching workshop designed to upgrade the quality of toolbox talks across the industry. Each ICF-accredited coach facilitated small group sessions focused on improving safety conversations by shifting from compliance to commitment, i.e. from having to do something because you’re told to do it, to wanting to do something because you understand the benefits.
Key coaching points explored:
• Blockers: What gets in the way of effective toolbox talks? Common themes such as lack of confidence talking to crowds, not enough time, and dealing with difficult personalities were noted and collaboratively tackled.
• Coaching Skills: Try to ask open questions. Remember TEDS:
T: Tell me, E: Explain, D: Describe, S: Show me
and actively listen to draw out real insight.
• Body Language: Understanding that 55% of communication is what we see, not just what we say.
• Transactional Analysis: Exploring how different behavioural states affect safety conversations. When we communicate in an effective state we send out ‘hooks’ for others to communicate effectively with us. Awareness of our state is essential for positive outcomes from all conversations.
TBT
Asking better questions leads to better results
Each group took part in a role-play, demonstrating that how you ask the question is just as important as what question you ask. Closed questions often hinder understanding, while open ones unlock valuable knowledge.
OPEN QUESTIONS CLOSED QUESTIONS
Allows for a wide range of answers
Often start with “why”, “how”, “what”, “describe”, or “tell me about”
Used for gathering in-depth information, exploring ideas, checking understanding
Examples: “Give me examples of when we should stop the job”
Usually requires a limited short response such as “yes” or “no”
Often start with “can”, “do”, “are”
Used for gathering specific facts, gathering data
Examples: “Does everyone understand when to stop the job?”
This simple shift in approach helps Safety Reps drive engagement, ownership, and ultimately, safer outcomes.
Ethos remains committed to empowering the workforce through face-to-face coaching, helping them to lead conversations that influence culture and improve outcomes.
Email: info@stepchangeinsafety.net
Wellness Series
THE NAME’S BOND, SNACKER BOND
It’s been a long 12-hour shift so now it’s time to relax. Your relaxation method of choice? Watching something on the telly in your cabin with a fizzy juice in one hand and a bag of crisps/choccie bar/bag of sweets in the other. Maybe it’s a cuppa and a packet of biscuits. You’re not hungry, you just “fancy something” and before you know it, that sugar rush has kicked in and you’re still wide awake, not leaving enough time for sleep.
If this sounds familiar, then this article is for you. Let’s talk about the habit of snacking and how to turn this into a healthier habit or replace it with new habits altogether. Here’s how:
Why Do We Snack?
1. Habit
A habit is a behaviour we repeat often, either consciously or subconsciously Snacking can become a routine, especially if you always hit the bond at the same time. Left unchecked, this can affect your sleep and lead to weight gain.
Try this instead: Replace the habit with something else - a gym session or stretch. By the time you return, shower, and wind down, the urge to snack may pass. Keep your hands busy with drawing, puzzles, or a fidget cube/spinner.
2. Boredom
When we’re bored, we crave stimulation - and snacks can feel like an easy fix. Try this instead: Engage your brain. Listen to a podcast, read, watch a show, call home, try meditation, or explore a hobby.
3. Hunger
True hunger has physical cues – do you know them? Hint: ‘fancying something’ doesn’t count!
Try this instead: Stick to a healthy and balanced diet whilst away. Include
plenty of protein, at least 5 servings of fruit/veg daily, and 2-3 litres of water. If you still feel peckish, drink water first or brush your teeth to curb cravings.
4. Enjoyment
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying snacks - it’s about moderation. Daily multiple snacks can lead to too much sugar, fat and salt.
Try this instead: Cut down on visits to the bond - when you do go, buy just one item. Reduce your portion size and eat slowly and mindfully without distractions.
Does Snacking Before Bed Affect Sleep?
In a word - yes! Snacking close to end of shift, especially with caffeine or sugar, can delay sleep and lower sleep quality. Many fizzy drinks - even sugar-free ones - and chocolate contain caffeine. Caffeine interferes with melatonin, the sleep hormone, and can impact quality and duration of sleep.
Tips:
• Choose earlier times to indulge.
• Limit caffeine for 7 hours and sugar for 6 hours before sleep
• Always check labels for sugar and caffeine content.
How to Build a Healthier Snacking Habit
Snack Preparation
Bring your own healthier, nonperishable snacks offshore. Many low-calorie or high-protein options are now available. Pack just enough for your trip to help manage portions and reduce temptation.
Snack Planning
Nothing wrong with a bond visit now and again - just plan it. Make one night “snack and movie” night and skip snacking the rest of the week or opt for healthier alternatives. Like steak or curry nights, planning means you can look forward to it.
Track Your Habits
Write down your goals, build a plan and track your progress. This makes reinforcing new habits much easier.
Need support or want to chat about your snacking habits?
Get in touch!
Craig Sandilands, Healthoutfit Offshore Lead and Wellness Coach craig@healthoutfit.co.uk
Email: info@stepchangeinsafety.net
www.stepchangeinsafety.net/teashack-news
What behaviours make us break the rules? How do we challenge them to make sure we all go home safe every time?
We all deserve to work in a safe environment, and over the years, we have developed rules and procedures to create that. In some cases, those rules and procedures – our Golden Rules - are the direct result of lessons learnt the hard way. As an industry, and at TotalEnergies, our safety performance has greatly improved over the years. We have come a long way from the early days of exploration in the North Sea.
We observed that in most cases, incidents on our North Sea sites, onshore and offshore, were linked to not following our Golden Rules: a direct result of human behaviours which lead us to take shortcuts, be overconfident or apply personal judgement over following the rules.
The Broken Rules campaign was designed to change this: through open, honest and heartfelt conversations. In short films, colleagues from across TotalEnergies shared a personal story, illustrating how broken rules can have serious and sometimes devastating consequences. Our senior leadership team lead with their own stories, empowering others to speak up.
Email:
The campaign challenges our behaviours and was delivered through:
• relatable, heartfelt personal stories shared by colleagues, with colleagues
• over 20 short storytelling films
• series of four interactive and thought-provoking workshops delivered in person over a six-month period
• engaging 3,500 people from TotalEnergies, our partner organisations and our contractor workforce
• ‘why do we fail to comply’ workshops explored attitudes and behaviours that affect our safety culture
Following its success in the UK where it was launched in 2023, the team behind the Broken Rules campaign won the Workforce Engagement Award at last year’s Offshore Safety Award. It has now also been rolled out worldwide at TotalEnergies, showing that by sharing our lessons learnt, we can create a lasting impact, at work and at home, for all our people.
Mhairi Finnie
Colin Wilson
Adam Jones
STANDARDISED RULES FOR CARRYING Portable ELECTRONIC DEVICES OFFSHORE
From 1 July 2025, new rules will take effect for transporting Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) on offshore helicopter flights. These changes are designed to enhance safety and reduce the fire risk posed by lithium-ion batteries.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Limits Apply – A maximum of six (6) PEDs per person will be allowed.
Condition Matters – Devices must be in good condition and securely packaged.
Powering Off – PEDs must be in its safest mode possible for the duration of the flight, ie flight safe mode and powered off.
Some Items Banned – E-cigarettes and power banks will NOT be permitted.
CROSSWORD
Why is This Important?
Helicopters have limited capacity to contain fires in flight.
These new measures help protect everyone onboard by reducing the risk of battery-related incidents.
What’s Next?
Download the full guidance from www.stepchangeinsafety.net to make sure you are aware of the new requirements before 1 July.
Got any questions? Please contact your company’s logistics team or reach out to info@stepchangeinsafety.net
Full page puzzles will be back next edition
Not a robber, in control of the lift (8)
4. Securing point, found on ships (6)
Attached to a beam, not like the supermarket ones (7)
Email:
Line connecting harness to secure point (7) 3. The D in PDO (7) 5. Large machine used to lift loads (5)
7. Not something you want in your tights (6)
8. The W in SWL (7) 10. Device worn around body while working at height (7)
9. Assembled items used for lifting operation, also found on a sailing ship (7)
11. Structure erected for access to height (8)
12. Tools at height secured using it, best not to be at the end of yours (6)
