For those of us who work within the oil and gas industry, organisation is a key factor when preparing for a trip offshore. There are a number of considerations, one of which is typically your medication, which commonly may not be something that would be at the top of your list.
However, if preventative measures are not taken ahead of time to ensure a successful and incident-free trip offshore, it could have a seriously detrimental effect on your own health, and also pose a risk to colleagues and risk costly downtime.
Your employer and the operator of your installation or vessel take this very seriously. They manage this by ensuring robust processes and policies are in place and communicated effectively through their HR teams to their workforce; the company occupational health teams support this to ensure the best guidance is provided.
In the first instance, you need to make sure you travel with sufficient amounts of all your essential medication, to last for the duration of your scheduled trip, plus a two-week contingency supply.
This is to allow for unforeseen operational extensions, adverse weather, or other factors affecting helicopter operations. This may require a discussion with your GP and pharmacy to enable the necessary arrangements to be made.
Secondly, make sure you pack your bag yourself, and know your current medication details, including the name of your medication, dosage and frequency of dosage.
It is your responsibility to know the contents of your bag. Claiming your partner forgot to pack your tablets will not be accepted as a viable excuse and may result in a hasty return onshore.
All medication should be retained in its original packaging, from the pharmacy, with the dispensing label clearly seen. Remember, it is illegal to consume medication which has been prescribed for another person. In addition, it may cause you as much harm as good.
Before travel, check all your medication is in good condition, and still in date. Pay particularly close attention to this if your GP or pharmacist has advised you that your medication has a short shelf-life. GTN and EpiPens are prime examples, both of which have the potential to save lives and so you can’t afford to have one that is out of date.
If you have followed the steps above, it should be plain-sailing.
However, we all forget something occasionally, don’t we? If you realise you’ve forgotten your essential medication at, or even before you reach the heliport, you shouldn’t fly.
At the earliest opportunity, inform your HR department who can advise on next steps. But remember that this can be disruptive to manning, resourcing and logistics.
Ultimately, you could make the situation worse by travelling offshore without your essential medication. In the worst case scenario, this might mean you have to be flown back onshore, with further operative disruption, and at greater expense.
There are also some medications you should avoid transporting offshore. Here is a quick check list:
- Non-essential items like paracetamol, which can usually be supplied by the Medic if needed, and items you have previously been advised not to take offshore
- Items which may cause drowsiness, light-headedness or other impairment unless it is prescribed medication, and authorised by your company’s Occupational Health provider;
- Newly-prescribed medication, especially if it has only been prescribed in the last three weeks, and will need to be discussed with HR first.
- Expired medication: efficacy and potential side-effects cannot be accurately predicted;
- Medication acquired abroad: if essential, see your GP first, and get a suitable alternative;
- Medication not in its original packaging such as 7-day dispensers which are liable to be confiscated at the heliport by some operators.
If you follow these recommendations, it will not only avoid disruption to offshore operations, but help avoid serious medical incidents impacting both you and your fellow workers.
Dr Rosemary Fieldsend is medical officer – medical services at International SOS and Abermed
Recommended for you
