A few weeks ago, I visited my doctor and asked for a cholesterol test. She asked why I wanted one and I replied by saying, “I’m in my mid-40s, I have a stressful job and my diet exists mainly of crisps, chocolate and coffee.”
My doctor asked what I would do if the results said I had high cholesterol. “I’d cut out the crisps and chocolate,” I replied.
She responded: “Well, do you really need a cholesterol test to do that?”
My doctor was right. Did I really need a cholesterol test to tell me what I already should be doing? No.
We can apply the same thinking to our commitment to safety. On Thursday, February 20th the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a strong and detailed report with a number of measures that should make our industry safer.
While some of the measures may present fresh challenges and will make significant changes to the offshore industry, we have to now work with the CAA and other subject matter experts towards the implementation of what they have recommended.
But we don’t have to wait for new seating arrangements or the introduction of breathing equipment to start playing our part. We do not need a CAA report to tell us that. As an industry, we need to be healthier, more mobile and fitter. We need to be engaged now, so that when the new recommendations come into play we are one step closer to making our industry a safer.
A lot of questions that have been asked in response to the CAA report have been around size and shape.
We know that there will be some restrictions on size of the offshore workforce in the near-future, but at the moment we don’t know what those restrictions will be. The CAA review has recommended that by the 1st April 2015 every offshore worker must be able to fit through push-out window emergency exits.
Oil and Gas UK and the Robert Gordon University is conducting a size and shape study to determine the current size and shape of offshore workers.
This is the first study of its kind since the 1980s and, as an overall industry like the rest of the country, we’re larger and heavier. I know I’m at least two-stone heavier since I first went offshore in the late eighties.
There is time for those that may be affected by a size restriction to make some changes. Even without the results we can begin to think about it.
Of course, the CAA recommendation is complex and not just about weight. Like my doctor said, I can improve my general fitness and wellbeing by taking some simple steps now.
I will play my part – will you?
Les Linklater is team leader at Step Change In Safety
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