Safety in the oil patch: oil companies are following strict safety standards to reduce accidents on the North slope.

• Author: Morgan, Barbara
• Position: Alaska oil companies improved safety record

Ever since the Piper Alpha North Sea catastrophe in 1988, where an oil platform caught fire and 167 people died, safety has been even more a vital concern in the oil industry.

Oil industry workers worldwide may contend with extreme heat and sand storms, or cold weather conditions similar to Alaska, but Alaska companies in the oil industry have a record of improved safety despite darkness, icy conditions and subzero temperatures.

Over the last year, all drilling contractors in Alaska saw a rise in hand injuries; a huge challenge in this industry. Hand injuries are the No. 1 injury for Na1~ors Alaska Drilling Inc. in Alaska.

Meetings three months ago with BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. and contractors in Alaska addressed this problem. A thorough hazard assessment occurred-team leaders identified everything that could cause problems. The result was the development of a new hand injury-prevention video as a training tool. Specific to rigs in Alaska, the video differs from old videos that were based on a factory in the Lower 48, which wouldn't really apply to work in Alaska.

Because of this joint effort, hand injuries in Alaska have declined.

Other types of injuries are also on the decline. Here's what some of Alaska's oil companies are doing to help prevent injuries on the oil fields.

SCHLUMBERGER OILFIELD SERVICES

"Slips, trips and falls are 50 percent of the accidents for our company," says Graeme Lawrie, office of health, safety and environment manager for Schlumberger. "We have had a 50 percent reduction in accidents since the SIPP program (Schlumberger Injury Prevention Program) has been in place. Every employee must take this program every three years."

Schlumberger uses the International Environment Rating System, a strict program that requires improved rates each year or loss of certification. With only a "four" rating (on a scale of one to 10) in 2000, Schlumberger improved that to a "six" rating in 2001, and upped its ranking to a "seven" rating in 2002.

At Schlumberger, all problems are reported and investigated immediately. After determining the biggest cause of accidents for the year, the company then puts its efforts and resources there, not allowing a trend to build.

Schlumberger emphasizes safe driving with its Comprehensive Journey Management Program. The company prohibits night driving (a rule that cannot always be followed in the winter on the North Slope because of the 24 hours of darkness). Also, the company prefers that employees fly rather than drive to Kenai.

A few simple rules of Schlumberger's program: Do not drive if you've been awake for 16 hours. Only drive on the North Slope if you are a qualifled driver. Don't drive in a location that you are not used to. Visitors on company business are not allowed to drive in Anchorage though they may...