A TRIO of North Sea oil platforms are the first offshore sites in Scotland to receive the highest level of a health-improvement and safety accolade.
The Gannet Alpha, Sole Pit Clipper and Shearwater installations, all operated by Shell UK, have gained healthy working lives gold awards in recognition of their efforts to improve safety and promote healthier lifestyles.
Administered by the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives (SCHWL), the award scheme is aimed at helping employers in areas such as occupational health and safety, employability, mental wellbeing, community involvement, and environmental issues.
Nearly 300 workers on the three platforms have seen the introduction of a range of new health-improvement measures, including stop-smoking classes and monthly presentations on topics such as healthy eating and stress management.
They have also been given the chance to take part in health clinics and personal fitness training, with input and advice from dieticians, nutritionists and gym instructors.
The three platforms have all also taken steps towards reducing the environmental impacts of working practices through schemes to cut down on waste and staff have been trained in the safe use of hazardous chemicals such as benzene.
Alan Hastie, an occupational health adviser on Shell UK’s Gannet Alpha platform, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded gold status in recognition of the high priority we place on staff health and wellbeing.
“The measures we’ve introduced to achieve the award have been very well received by the staff and the personal fitness classes in particular have been extremely popular.”
“We intend to continue with further health-improvement initiatives for our staff in future.”
Steve Bell, strategic director for the SCHWL, said: “The platforms deserve to be seen as exemplars of good practice in this part of the oil and gas sector.”
