TEA SHACK NEWS
WORKFORCE ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT TEAM
ISSUE 9 • JANUARY 2025
“Wishing you a safe and healthy festive season” REBOOTED
M c CLANE’S CHAOTIC CHRISTMAS What Nakatomi Plaza Teaches Us About Safety
It’s that time of year when families hunker down together with broad smiles, hot chocolate, twinkling lights, and festive movies. And what better way to kick off Christmas than with the perennial classic, Die Hard?
But John McClane’s feet may not have been needlessly shredded had safety controls functioned as they should.
Hear me out:
• Lax Security at Nakatomi Plaza: The security seems more symbolic than functional. The building’s central control system is easily hacked by the terrorists, allowing them to shut down key systems like the lifts and HVAC. To manage the risk, an asset containing high value product should have systems with redundancy and additional layers of protection
• Inadequate Emergency Response: As the terrorists take over, the LAPD is called in to handle the situation. However, their response is both slow and ill-informed. The police don’t seem to have any prior knowledge of the building’s layout or emergency protocols, and they fail to communicate effectively with McClane. Although Al Powell’s gut tells him something is amiss, he has no evidence until a dropped object lands on his patrol car
• Inadequate Maintenance Regimes:
One of the most iconic moments in Die Hard involves a lift shaft rescue, where McClane narrowly escapes death after being forced to jump from a malfunctioning lift. This is a result of Hans Grüber and team, disabling the building’s lift systems. Proper planned maintenance and a backup system could help to prevent such catastrophic failures
The events that unfolded at Nakatomi Plaza are like what we might see on our worksites e.g. the theft of the untraceable bonds is a loss of primary containment (nuclear source, oil, gas, energy). In other words, a major accident. Assessing risks, implementing effective controls, and then assuring those controls are still working as they should are the building blocks of good risk management.
Perhaps if the Nakatomi Corporation had been so diligent, we would be settling down to watch the more jolly, “Live Well’, rather than “Die Hard”.
Yippeekayai!
#PlayYourPart
Cover story by Fiona FitzGerald, Co-Chair Major Accident Hazard Understanding Workgroup
ONE YEAR ON
Craig Wiggins: Reflecting on One Year as CEO of Step Change in Safety
Craig Wiggins recently marked his oneyear milestone as CEO of Step Change in Safety, the energy sector’s trusted workforce voice in health and safety. Over the past 12 months, he has led the organisation through an impressive year of growth, engagement, and strategic development, guided by the
core mission of ensuring that every worker in the energy sector returns home safely.
In his first full year, Craig has placed significant emphasis on collaboration and engagement, reinforcing the values that have defined Step Change
in Safety since its inception. Reflecting on 2024, he noted:
“This has been a successful year where we’ve laid out clear strategic themes and worked closely with our members to drive health and safety excellence across the energy sector.”
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Four Strategic Themes Driving Change
At the heart of Craig’s leadership is the focus on four key themes:
01. Preventing Incidents and Injuries
Acknowledging a plateau in safety performance, Step Change in Safety is returning to basics with a three-year programme launching in 2025. This initiative aims to significantly reduce incidents and injuries across the UK energy sector—a mission deeply rooted in the organisation’s founding principles.
02. Supporting the Energy Transition
While proud of its oil and gas heritage, Step Change in Safety is actively expanding its expertise into new energy sectors. By leveraging decades of experience, the organisation seeks to share best practices in safety culture and leadership with the renewables industry, fostering a safer energy transition.
Achievements and Engagement in 2024
This year, Step Change in Safety celebrated significant accomplishments, including:
• Growth in membership numbers and increased attendance at both online and in-person events.
• Co-hosting the Offshore Safety Award with OEUK, which received exceptional feedback from attendees.
• Developing new networks, including plans for a Safety in Decommissioning network in partnership with Decom Mission and OEUK.
• Further driving initiatives such as Boots on For Safety (BoFS) to improve senior leadership engagement offshore.
03. Enhancing Member Value
Under Craig’s leadership, members now benefit from value-added services, including exclusive discounts on digital safety tools like E-Obs Boost and Salus Technical Process Safety Training. This focus ensures tangible benefits for members and supports their operational needs.
04. Expanding International Reach
Recognising the global respect for its brand, Step Change in Safety is set to develop its footprint in international regions, with a specific focus on the Middle East. This strategic move underscores its ambition to influence safety and wellbeing beyond the UK.
Looking Ahead
As Craig leads Step Change in Safety into 2025, the focus remains on collaboration and engagement. By continuing to engage with members and expand its offerings, Step Change in Safety is well-positioned to shape the future of health and safety in an evolving energy landscape.
Craig Wiggins’ first year as CEO has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to safety and a vision for adapting to industry challenges while retaining the organisation’s core purpose. As Craig remarked, “The simplicity of our goal—ensuring every worker returns home safely—is often masked by the complexity of energy industry work, but it is one we will continue to uphold with dedication and determination.”
FREE TRAINING FOR OFFSHORE ENERGY WORKERS
In the dynamic offshore energy industry, staying ahead requires more than just technical expertise; it demands a commitment to continuous personal learning. With technology evolving rapidly and safety standards ever-changing, boosting your skills is not just a career advantage but a necessity. Fortunately, Offshore Titans’ free training platform offers a golden opportunity to do just that.
Accessible at https://offshoretitansfreetraining.com/, the platform provides free, comprehensive courses tailored to the unique demands of offshore workers. From essential safety training to advanced technical modules, these resources are designed to help you sharpen your skills and adapt to industry challenges, all at your own pace.
The offshore environment is as unpredictable as it is rewarding. Investing time in professional development enhances your on-thejob performance and boosts your confidence and career resilience. Employers value individuals who take the initiative to learn and grow, making you stand out in a competitive field.
Whether new to the industry or a seasoned pro, the Offshore Titans platform ensures you’re always ready for the next challenge. With userfriendly online access, it’s easy to fit learning into your schedule, whether onshore or offshore.
Take control of your career journey. Explore the website and unlock your potential with courses designed by industry experts.
REV MICHAEL MAIR
Since 1986 the Oil and Gas Chaplaincy has existed to help support all those who work in our Industry, regardless of background, belief, or circumstance. Those working across energy do so often in remote, isolating, high-risk and high-pressure environments. The nature of this work takes people away from family, friends and support networks – often for weeks at a time – where they must work and live alongside colleagues as best as they are able. The tensions and stresses of home life; be they financial, relational or otherwise are just as present offshore, and thanks to the value placed on high-speed internet, they arrive in real time.
My role as Chaplain is to simply be available to those experiencing
Email: editor@teashack.news
difficulty, stress, and hardship as an independent and confidential ear. I make frequent trips offshore to meet with the workforce and work with operators to improve issues raised with me.
Over the last year I have been in post, I have come to the understand that the greatest risk to our people is poor Mental Health and Suicide. None of us want our colleagues to suffer in silence, so I urge us all to pay attention to those we work with. If something does not seem right, then create space and time to talk openly about how things are, on the job and at home. It can be uncomfortable to ask these questions, but if you make the time for someone, you might make all the difference for them.
Invest in yourself –because the best time to learn is now.
If you find yourself struggling with your mental health then your Medic, Supervisor or Site Manager can be first ports of call. If you want to speak to someone confidential and independent then your Employer Assistance Programme, and the Chaplaincy are available to you – reach out and find the support you need https:// www.ukoilandgaschaplaincy. com/
Chelsea began her fitness journey as a kids sports coach and working in small local gyms at the age of 18. Now, as a certified Level 3 Personal Trainer and NASM Behavioural Change Specialist, Chelsea’s knowledge and skills give her an expert edge.
Healthoutfit’s Wellness Series
Article 1
For over 20 years, Healthoutfit has guided organisations in making informed wellness choices for their teams. Now, in partnership with Tea Shack News, we’re launching a series of articles from Healthoutfit’s expert coaches, each paired with a practical video to help you apply these strategies.
Chelsea believes in teaching fitness smarter, not harder. Challenge yourself, absolutely! But not every session is about running yourself into the ground.
Why Exercise Helps
Chelsea’s focus is to equip you with the tools you need to create a sustainable approach and positive, healthy habits.
You can have your fitness cake and eat it too!
First in the series is Chelsea PagePhillips, Wellness Coach, who explores how movement can effectively manage stress and boost well-being.
Get Moving to Manage Stress
Exercise is widely known for its physical benefits, but its mental and emotional impact is equally transformative. Regular movement not only enhances self-esteem and confidence but also helps reduce stress, improve mood, and promote overall well-being.
When you move, your body boosts blood flow, delivering oxygen to muscles, tissues, and organs— including the brain. This process supports vital systems such as cardiovascular and respiratory health and can help prevent chronic conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers.
Endorphins: Nature’s Mood Boosters
Want to work together? Email: chelsea@healthoutfit.co.uk
Rewiring Stress Responses
Mobile: 07787575686
Exercise triggers the release of endorphins, your body’s natural pain relievers and mood enhancers. These chemicals elevate feelings of pleasure, regulate appetite, and bolster immunity. By reducing stress and worry, endorphins leave you feeling more positive and energised.
Physical activity not only eases anxiety but can also reshape how you respond to stress over time. Many find that exercising helps them “switch off,” offering a mental reset. Challenges feel more manageable, and worries take a backseat as you focus on the present moment.
As the saying goes, emotion is energy in motion—so channel it positively through movement.
Simple Steps to Start
Set Goals
Create small, realistic goals. Focus on why they matter to you and write them down to stay motivated.
Plan Wisely
Choose enjoyable activities over those you feel obligated to do. Keep it simple—quality beats quantity every time.
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Seek Support
If you’re unsure where to begin, ask for guidance or accountability from a coach or friend.
Take It Slow
Progress takes time. Build consistency rather than rushing into intense routines.
Team Up
Exercising with a buddy adds motivation. Whether it’s a walk or a workout, shared activity keeps you on track.
To jumpstart your wellness journey, try Chelsea’s 10-minute StretchFit video by clicking here
Stay Tuned
Look out for more articles from Healthoutfit coaches in the coming issues, each with actionable tips and videos to help you prioritise wellness in your daily life.
www.stepchangeinsafety.net/teashack-news #playyourpart
REFLECTING ON 2024: Step Change in
2024 has been a pivotal year for Step Change in Safety, marked by a series of engaging events and campaigns designed to enhance safety and wellbeing practices across the energy industry. From interactive workshops to influential conferences, these initiatives have strengthened the collective commitment to making the industry the safest and healthiest place to work. Let’s take a closer look at some of the year’s key moments:
Driving Safety Culture Through Collaboration
Offshore Safety Awards, Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen
The Offshore Safety Awards are designed to recognise, showcase and celebrate the outstanding contribution that individuals, teams, and organisations make to improve safety at their worksites and across the wider industry.
Jointly organised by Step Change in Safety and OEUK, this full-day, freeto-attend event included keynote presentations, panel sessions, networking, drinks reception and of course, the Offshore Safety Awards.
Our flagship annual event saw the audience participating in the judging and ultimately deciding on the worthy category winners. Here is a reminder of the 2024 winners: www. stepchangeinsafety.net/offshoresafety-awards/
Safety’s Event Highlights
Occupational Lung Disease and RPE Awareness Event, Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen
Unlocking the power of protection, this half-day session brought together industry leaders, health & safety professionals, and RPE experts for a comprehensive exploration of best practices, innovative solutions and, of course, sharing & learning. Catch up on all the insights and expert talks by watching the presenters’ recordings here: www.stepchangeinsafety.net/ occupational-lung-disease-andrpe-awareness/
Safety Reps and Site Managers Events, Union Kirk, Aberdeen
With a renewed focus on leadership and workforce collaboration, events like the Safety Rep and Site Managers forums brought together frontline leaders and safety advocates. Covering a range of crucial topics, from process safety and wellbeing to decommissioning and major accident learnings, alongside thoughtprovoking presentations from two inspirational Safety Reps. Throughout, a clear theme: the immense value of sharing, learning, and connecting. Find out more and watch the presentations here: www.stepchangeinsafety.net/ safety-reps-site-managers-event/
Wellbeing Event, Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen
This full-day event, open to all energy industry employees, their families, and friends, focused on enhancing health and wellbeing both at work and in everyday life. Over 150 attendees came together to connect with others who shared similar interests, engage with an impressive lineup of expert speakers on health and wellbeing, and explore interactive stalls hosted by local communities and charities offering valuable insights on diverse topics.
Visit the event webpage to catch up with the day’s activities and speaker presentations: www.stepchangeinsafety.net/ wellbeing-event
A big thank you to everyone who attended our events in 2024, as well as our fantastic sponsors, hosts, presenters, exhibitors and AV team. Your contributions made these events a huge success!
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we transition into 2025, Step Change in Safety remains committed to its mission of reducing incidents and injury in the energy industry through active leadership, member collaboration and workforce engagement. Our events play a vital role in achieving this. FREE for all our member companies, and an excellent opportunity to share knowledge, learn from one another and drive impactful improvement through connection.
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2025 CALENDAR
THE CHANGES OF HAZARDS AND RISKS DURING DECOMMISSIONING
Safety is, of course, a constant topic for discussion for Decom Mission and its members, as we work to share lessons learned for the benefit of an industry which is characterised by unforeseen challenges.
Major accidents on operational oil and gas offshore installations can be categorised into five distinct scenarios:
• gas escape and explosion
• oil leak (oil pool fire)
• loss of well control (blowout)
• helicopter crash
• ship collision
The Safety Case on an installation will describe how each of these incidents will be managed, but the critical control elements will be common: fire and gas detection; emergency shutdown systems; fire pumps and deluge; emergency procedures and emergency evacuation plans.
When an installation ceases production prior to decommissioning, the likelihood of a well blowout is minimised but as hydrocarbons remain within pipework, all scenarios need to be mitigated and the operational Safety Case will largely be unchanged.
The first decommissioning task is to plug and abandon wells, before flushing and cleaning the topsides, followed by isolation from all pipelines. These activities essentially render the installation hydrocarbonfree which, in turn, eliminates the hazards related to gas and oil leaks. Therefore, the risk to personnel on board is reduced. A revised Safety Case will prevail at this point to reflect the reduction in hazards and associated risks.
The next phase of decommissioning is the removal and disposal of topsides and substructure. Before this can
happen, all installation personnel will be down manned and all critical control systems described above will have been disabled, with only a navigation aid remaining while any of the installation remains above the sea.
Hazards at this point transfer to the lifting vessel, where dropped objects will be the primary hazard, and mitigation of risks associated with this will transfer to the vessel owner.
When the topsides and substructures are deposited by the removal vessel at an onshore recycling facility, other hazards prevail such as stored energy, hazardous waste, moving machinery, working at height, residual hydrocarbons and hot work (cutting with naked flame). Risks associated with this work are controlled by the contractors working on the onshore facility.
Callum Falconer, Operations Director, Decom Mission
HOW E-OBS BOOST HELPS PREVENT MAJOR ACCIDENTS
We’ve worked with our member company Empirisys – specialists in process safety and data science – to introduce a premium feature, Boost, that enhances Step Change in Safety’s Electronic Observation System (E-Obs) Designed for the energy workforce (and free to Step Change in Safety members) E-Obs enables users to record safety concerns and highlight examples of good safety practices. The system is instrumental in facilitating feedback and communication on safety, both within companies and across the wider industry. Installation operators, contracting companies, and individual workers can use the system to track safety issues and receive direct feedback on their submissions.
E-Obs Boost takes your safety observations a step further with AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics, allowing you to:
• Uncover hidden trends and improve data quality using Smart Suggestions
• Save time with automated action recommendations tailored to your observations
• Detect weak signals faster through an advanced analytics dashboard, reducing reliance on manual reporting and analysis
This advanced technology helps identify potential safety concerns before they escalate into serious incidents. By categorizing observations and automatically recommending actions, E-Obs Boost reduces the risk of safety concerns becoming major accidents.
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Testimonial from one of our early access users:
“Empirisys analysed over 29,000 safety observation cards using a combination of AI and Machine Learning, generating insights and trends that would not have been possible using traditional techniques. This work has enabled us to identify the top issues influencing process and personal safety. Equally importantly, this work has enabled us to feedback to the offshore workforce on the contribution that their observations are making.” – HSE Manager
We’re excited to offer both current and new users the opportunity to trial E-Obs Boost for free until 3rd March 2025. Use your own data to experience the system’s full potential and see the difference it can make.
To start your free trial, contact us at eobs@stepchangeinsafety.net today.
On the 1st of January 2025, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will recognise its 50th anniversary, and it is only right that at this time we look back at the changes that HSE, and the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 (The Act), has driven across industries.
The Act provided the platform for a radical new approach to health and safety moving away from the prescriptive regulations in the previous Factories Act to a goal-setting approach, which combined with the concept of reasonable practicability, created progressive regulation and scope for innovation that inflexible prescription-based law did not. This enabled HSE to keep pace with a changing world of work, and, more importantly, as we look forward, still provides a solid foundation for future changes.
ANNIVERSARY
Over the last 50 years, HSE’s work has changed significantly. Some sectors that were once regulated by HSE are now overseen by others, such as the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) and Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR). In other areas HSE has evolved and expanded its scope and responsibilities, such as the recently established Building Safety Division created following the Grenfell fire, the development of a chemicals regulatory regime, and following Piper Alpha –offshore safety.
HSE’s current strategy, Protecting People and Places’ is designed to keep us focused on tackling both new and emergent risks alongside those the sector is more accustomed to, at the right time and in the right way.
The work that HSE’s Energy Division delivers has a simple goal, to ensure people working in the offshore sector can do so safely, and, that you and your colleagues get to
return home free from injury or ill health. The simplicity of that goal is often disguised by the complex and technical nature of offshore work, which is why the Division (and wider HSE) has many operational, technical and legal disciplines to help us determine if, when issues are found, action needs to be taken to keep the workforce, or anyone else who may be affected by those work activities, safe.
We maintain dialogue with industry and other regulatory bodies to help understand the challenges and changes we all face and support safe operation and safe transition - where that is happening. The Act continues to provide industry with the flexibility to change and innovate without compromising workers health and safety, and the range of powers we require as a regulator to enable change and innovation and play our part in protecting people and places.
OFFSHORE EMERGENCY RESPONSE MANAGEMENT
All offshore workers are familiar with Emergency Response drills and the onboard Fire and Medical Teams. But how are companies structured to manage real incidents on offshore installations?
Depending on company size, most adopt a Strategic (Gold), Tactical (Silver) and Operational (Bronze) response structure.
Gold-level response is managed from the head office, Silver from the regional offices, while Bronze is the operational response led by the OIM and teams at the installation.
To ensure personnel are prepared to respond effectively and confidently, OPITO provides training and assessment standards for various emergency roles, from Response Team members to OIMs or Emergency Managers. Following the Piper Alpha disaster, Lord Cullen identified significant failings in response training and assessment, which led to delays and confusion during the incident.
While much focus is placed on the left-hand side of the bowtie diagram—maintaining barriers to prevent incidents—equal attention must be given to the right-hand side: mitigating escalation if an event occurs.
At the Operational Bronze level, the Response and Medical Teams operate a command structure from a central location, such as a control room. This command team organises musters, coordinates resources like stretchers and medevac helicopters, and liaises with onshore responders for injured personnel. They also monitor the operations (process or wells), fire and gas panel, and emergency shutdown systems (ESDs).
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GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ
1. What is James Bond’s code name?
2. What is the capital of Finland?
3. Which popular video game franchise has released games with the subtitles World at War and Black Ops?
4. In what US state is the city Nashville?
5. Which rock band was founded by Trent Reznor in 1988?
6. What is the currency of Denmark?
7. Which Tennis Grand Slam is played on a clay surface?
8. In which European country would you find the Rijksmuseum?
9. How many films have Al Pacino and Robert De Niro appeared in together?
10. What was the old name for a Snickers bar before it changed in 1990?
11. Who was the head of state in Japan during the Second World War?
12. What is the smallest planet in our solar system?
13. Who wrote the novels Gone Girl and Sharp Objects?
14. Which legendary surrealist artist is famous for painting melting clocks?
15. Which football club plays its home games at Loftus Road?
16. Continental United States has 4 time zones, can you name them?
17. What is the northernmost country in Africa?
18. From which US city do the band The Killers originate?
19. Name the coffee shop in US sitcom Friends.
20. How many human players are there on each side in a polo match?
Answers to the general knowledge quiz can be found by clicking this link or view at the bottom of this page, no cheating!
Got any interesting ideas or stories you’d like to share with the rest of industry? Anyone you’d like to recognise for being a safety champion?
Please get in touch with editor@teashack.news and we will consider it for future issues. We would also love to hear what you think about Tea Shack News Rebooted; all constructive feedback is welcome!