Managing Health For Field Operations in Oil and Gas Activities

Managing health
for field operations

in oil and gas
activities
A guide for managers and supervisors
in the oil and gas industry
Health
2011
The global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues
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form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the
prior consent of IPIECA.
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OGP Report Number 343 (Revision Version 1/ October 2011)
Managing health
for field operations
in oil and gas
activities
A guide for managers and supervisors
Photographs reproduced courtesy of the following: cover, upper left: Shutterstock.com; upper centre and bottom:
iStockphoto.com; upper right: Photos.com pages 12, 13, 14 and 34: Shutterstock.com; pages 4, 6, 9, 11, 15,
16, 19, 20, 21: iStockphoto.com; page 18: Corbis.
IPIECA
OGP
ii
MANAGING HEALTH FOR FIELD OPERATIONS IN OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES
Contents
Introduction 1
Health management systems 1
Occupational health 2
Health risk assessment and planning 3
Industrial hygiene and control of
workplace exposures 4
Medical emergency management 5
Management of ill health
in the workplace 9
Fitness for task assessment and
health surveillance 16
Health impact assessment 17
Health reporting and record
management 17
Public health interface and
promotion of good health 19
Glossary 22
Annex 1
Health audit for managers 23
Annex 2
Guidelines for medical evacuation by
ground, air and water 28
Annex 3
Guidelines for health-care professionals:
knowledge, skills and medical kits 31
Annex 4
Local medical facility audit template 35
All companies, whether operators or contractors,
have a commitment to protect and promote the
health of those affected, either directly or indirectly,
by field operations in the oil and gas industry. This
is best achieved by establishing an effective health
management system. The purpose of this document
is to assist companies working within this sector to
achieve and maintain high standards of health
management for all people associated with field
operations.
This document supersedes the previous edition
published by OGP in May 2003. The aim has been
to simplify and integrate into one document the
recommendations that the OGP/IPIECA Health
Subcommittee considers essential for optimal health
management, from conception and throughout the
entire duration of a field operation.
The following section on Health management systems
provides a basis for the establishment of an effective
health management system. The subsequent sections
provide guidance on the specific occupational health
aspects of such a system which should be applied
during field operations in oil and gas activities, as
described in the OGP/IPIECA report number 393,
Health performance indicators: a guide for the oil
and gas industry.
1
Introduction
A health management system enables an
organization to control its health risks and to
achieve higher standards of performance by means
of continuous improvement.
The system should convey the companys structure,
responsibilities, practices, procedures and resources
for implementing health management, including
processes to identify root causes of poor
performance, prevent recurrences and drive
continuous improvement.
The benefits of effective health management include:
G
ensuring patient safety;
G
eliminating illness related to work;
G
managing medical care;
G
maintaining a healthy workforce;
G
optimizing business performance and
reputation;
G
meeting legal requirements; and
G
ensuring cost-effectiveness.
The system should be designed to complement
national and international standards and
regulatory requirements as necessary, as well as
individual corporate health guidelines within which
companies and contractors conduct their business.
For further guidance on how contractors and
subcontractors should be incorporated into the
health management system of contracted field
operations, see OGP report number 423
1
. The key
outcome of a successful health management system
is that health performance meets both company
and statutory requirements and demonstrates
continual improvement.
The key components of any health management
system are similar and should include the following
(E&P Forum, 1994)
2
:
G
leadership and commitment;
G
policy and strategic objectives;
G
organization, responsibilities, resources,
standards and documentation;
Health management systems
1
OGP, 2010. HSE Managementguidelines for working together in a contract environment. (OGP report number 423)
2
E&P Forum (now OGP), 1994. Guidelines for the development and application of health, safety and environmental
management systems. E&P Forum report number 210.
G
risk management;
G
planning and procedures;
G
implementation and performance monitoring;
and
G
audit and management review.
Examples of health management systems that are
utilized within the industry have been published by
OGP
1
, API
3
and the OHS Group
4
.
An example of a health self-audit template for use
by managers can be found in Annex 1.
IPIECA
OGP
2
Occupational health is an integral part of the
health management system. It is concerned with the
interrelationship between work and health, i.e. the
effects of work on health and the effects of peoples
health on their capacity to work.
The purpose of an occupational health service is to:
G
protect, promote and maintain the health, safety
and welfare of people at work;
G
advise on the provision of safe and healthy
conditions by informed assessment of the
physical and psychological aspects of the
working environment;
G
identify and advise management on the causes
of occupational disease and injury and the
means of their prevention;
G
advise on the rehabilitation and placement in
suitable work of those temporarily or
permanently incapacitated by illness or injury;
and
G
assist in the planning and preparedness of
emergency response plans.
To achieve these aims, a team approach should
be taken by occupational physicians,
occupational nurses, industrial hygienists, other
occupational health professionals, and
administrative and other staff.
The business case
Field operations present unique challenges, and the
people involved are an important asset. To protect
that asset, an occupational health service
integrated into the operation can yield important
benefits:
G
Leaner company profiles mean that there are
now fewer employees in organizations: it is
therefore crucial that employees are not
incapacitated or lost through preventable ill
health.
G
Taking positive steps to improve employees
health will help to increase productivity, recruit
and retain staff, reduce staff turnover and
enhance company standing.
G
Sound advice on compliance with legislation will
reduce the risk of costly litigation and loss of
image.
G
Increasingly, employees and former employees
claim compensation for work-related illness and
injury, whether or not a particular hazard is
covered by legislation; these losses are
preventable.
G
Employers liability insurers insist that employers
demonstrate adequate protection of employee
health; involvement of an occupational health
service can help to control the premiums.
Occupational health
3
API, 1998. Model environmental, health and safety (EHS) management system and guidance document. (API Publication 9100)
4
The Occupational Health and Safety Group. OHSAS 18000 Occupational Health and Safety Toolkit:
www.ohsas-18001-occupational-health-and-safety.com/ohsas-18001-kit.htm
2006
OGP IPIECA. All rights reserved. No unauthorized copies of this CD-ROM may be made without prior agreement with IPIECA/OGP
Insert CD-ROM,
browse to the Word
file called HRA_Part2
and double-click to
open. (Requires
Microsoft Word)
A roadmap to
Health Risk Assessment
Part 2:
Oil and gas industry
HRA template
The business benefits of
a healthy workforce
Improved
corporate image
Increased efficiency
and productivity
Fewer
accidents
Improved
business reliance
Improved
employee retention
Reduced
sickness and absence
Better
business decisions
Improved
commitment
The occupational health aspects of a health
management system, which should be applied to
field operations in oil and gas activities, include
activity in all of the following:
G
health risk assessment and planning;
G
industrial hygiene and control of workplace
exposures;
G
medical emergency management;
G
management of ill-health in the workplace;
G
fitness for task assessment and health surveillance;
G
health impact assessment;
G
health reporting and record management;
G
public health interface and promotion of good
health; and
G
control of food, water and sanitation issues.
The requirements of each of these activities are
discussed in the following sections.
3
The OGP-IPIECA
Roadmap to health
risk assessment
(left) provides an
introduction to
health risk
assessment
processes, as well
as a CD-based
template giving
examples of HRA-
specific
implementation.
Figure 1 illustrates
the range of
benefits that
businesses enjoy in
return for assuring
a healthy
workforce.
(courtesy of The Work
Foundation)
Figure 1 The business benefits of assuring a healthy workforce
The aim of a health risk assessment is to identify health
hazards, evaluate their risks to health and determine
appropriate mitigation, control and recovery measures.
A guidance document entitled A roadmap to health risk
assessment in the oil and gas industry was published by
OGP and IPIECA in 2006 (see right).
This document covers all the basic activities required for a
successful health risk assessment process, and includes a
CD-ROM with detailed information for those who need a
deeper understanding.
Health risk assessment and planning
Industrial or occupational hygiene is defined as the
science devoted to the anticipation, recognition,
evaluation and control of those workplace
environmental health hazards/stressors which may
cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or
significant discomfort among workers or members
of the community.
The focus is on identification and control of
occupational health hazards. Industrial hygiene
programme components include: (1) hazard
identification; (2) risk evaluation relative to hazard
exposure; (3) hazard monitoring; (4) control plan
development; (5) employee training and control
plan implementation; and (6) evaluation of the
effectiveness of controls.
Workplace environmental health hazards include:
G
Chemical: dusts/fibres, fumes, mists/aerosols,
gases, vapours, smokes.
G
Physical: noise, vibration, radiation (ionizing
and non-ionizing), temperature (heat or cold
stress), illumination, pressure, ventilation,
NORM, asbestos.
G
Biological: bacteria, viruses, fungi, moulds,
parasites, insects, and animals.
G
Ergonomic/human factors: repetitive motions,
manual handling, fatigue, work station
design/operations, shift work.
G
Psychosocial: workplace stress related to
workload, organizational changes, conflict
management, job satisfaction, employee-job fit,
fatigue, aging workforce.
Occupational health programmes should
complement industrial hygiene risk assessments to
identify health hazards, control worker exposure,
protect the health of employees, and prevent
occupational illnesses and injuries.
Infection control measures in field
medical operations
The focus of the general principles outlined here is
on reducing the risk of disease transmission in the
health-care setting, rather than in the wider
community
Prevention strategies in the
health-care setting
The core prevention strategies include:
a) Standard precautions:
Hand hygienewash hands thoroughly with

soap and water or use an alcohol-based rub.
Hand hygiene is required for standard
precautions (previously called universal
precautions, and assumes blood and body
fluid of ANY patient could be infectious) and
expanded precautions (to include contact
precautions, droplet precautions and airborne
infection isolation).
Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
Sterilization and disinfection of medical

materials.
Prevention and management of injuries from

medical instruments.
IPIECA
OGP
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Industrial hygiene and control of workplace exposures
The identification
and control of
occupational health
hazards in the field
is key to
maintaining
appropriate
standards of
industrial hygiene.
b) Early detection of disease and isolation
precautions:
worker placement in relation to activities; and
use of PPE.
Isolation precautions can be categorized as
standard precautions (which assumes that blood
and body fluids of ANY person could be
infectious), or expanded precautions (to include
contact precautions, droplet precautions, and
airborne infection isolation.
c) Environmental and engineering infection control
measures. The basic issues related to health-care
workers health include:
pre- and post-employment screening to identify

conditions that may put workers at risk; and
vaccinations.
d) Personal protective equipment (PPE):
The types of PPE which should be utilized by
health professionals, dependent on the identified
hazard, include:
gloves for hand protection;
masks and respirators for mouth and nose

protection;
goggles for eye protection;
face shields for face, mouth, nose and eye

protection; and
gowns or aprons for skin and/or clothing

protection.
Contact precautions require the use of gown and
gloves for contact with persons or environment of
care (i.e. medical equipment, environmental
surfaces). Droplet precautions require the use of
surgical masks within three feet of the person.
Airborne infection isolation requires a particulate
respirator.
5
A medical emergency is a situation in which, due
to an acute illness or injury, there is an immediate
risk to a persons life or long-term health.
To manage medical emergencies, each location
should develop a site-specific medical emergency
response plan (MERP), taking into account the
potential for individual and multiple casualties,
describing the response to various medical
emergency scenarios based on the health risk and
impact assessments, and utilizing available
resources. The MERP should consider specific
needs of the work activities and the general
situation of the country in which these activities
are carried out, as well as any collaboration with
local authorities.
Resources required for the
implementation of the MERP
Resources required for the successful
implementation of a MERP are discussed below,
and include:
G
effective means of communications;
G
first responders and trained competent health-
care professionals, e.g. doctors, nurses,
paramedics, emergency medical technicians;
G
adequate means of transportation (ground,
water, air); and
G
adequate medical structures (primary, secondary
and tertiary health-care units).
Medical emergency management
Effective means of communication
Commonality of language is critical to effective
emergency response. The ability to transmit and
exchange information clearly and efficiently
between the field, designated medical facilities and
support structures is essential to minimize adverse
impact and assure a successful outcome. See
Communication on page 14 for further details.
First responders and trained
competent health-care professionals
Basic (Level 1) and Advanced (Level 2) first aid
First aid is the immediate application of first line
treatment following an injury or sudden illness,
using facilities and materials available at the time,
to sustain life, prevent deterioration in an existing
condition and promote recovery.
The content and duration of training courses and
the titles given to trained first-aiders vary widely
from country to country and even between training
institutes within the same country. Assessment of a
first-aiders qualifications will require scrutiny of
their training, experience and references. First-
aiders should carry a valid recognized certificate of
first-aid training which should at least meet
national requirements.
There are two levels of first-aiders: basic first-aiders
(Level 1 health-care providers) and advanced first
aiders (Level 2 health-care providers). Emergency
medical technicians (EMTs) used in some countries
may come under Level 2.
The number of first-aiders and their level of
competence will depend on both the size of the
workforce exposed and the degree of risk. Thus, a
two-man team operating in a remote or dangerous
locality may require one member to have basic
first-aid capability and the other to have more
advanced skills, while a team of 25 operating close
to high-quality medical facilities with good means
of communication and evacuation may require only
one basic first-aider. In addition, certain countries
may have national guidelines stipulating the
numbers of first-aiders required for given numbers
of workers.
Level 3 health-care professionals
These are individuals with specialized training in
emergency care; they are accredited by various
professional organizations around the world, and
are usually employed in field operations to manage
medical emergencies with remote support from a
Level 4 health professional.
The designated primary health-care unit (HCU)
should be staffed by registered and licenced
health professionals. These could be doctors,
nurses, physician assistants or other trained
personnel with experience in emergency and
primary care. They would be expected to provide
advanced emergency medical care to resuscitate
a patient, and to participate in the MERP in case
the patient is to be transferred to the secondary or
tertiary HCU.
The designated secondary HCU (usually a hospital)
and tertiary HCU (usually a critical care centre)
would ideally be staffed by medical specialists
medical personnel who have undertaken
postgraduate medical training and obtained further
medical qualifications, and whose competence has
been certified by a diploma granted by an
appropriate specialist medical college. They would
be expected to assess, diagnose and treat
specialized and complex medical conditions.
IPIECA
OGP
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Health-care
personnel range
from trained first-
aiders to medical
specialists capable
of diagnosing and
treating complex
medical conditions.
The response time for provision of basic life support
and immediate aid should be less than 4 minutes,
and for advanced life support (Levels 2 and 3) less
than 20 minutes. Access to more advanced level
health-care units should be based on the results of
the site-specific health risk assessment. Prescriptive
timings should be as short as reasonably
practicable. See Table 1 for guidance.
Adequate means of transportation
Evacuation procedures will need to take into
account the available resources, the urgency of the
transfer and the medical condition of the casualty.
Transportation could be by ground, by water or by
air. The casualty escort could be a doctor, nurse or
paramedic and in some cases a certified first-aider,
dependent upon the severity of the condition. All
should be trained and familiar with the equipment
that they are expected to use.
In certain circumstances, the use of a specialist
medical evacuation organization may be desirable.
In this case, a contract with the assistance company
or specialist transport company must be part of the
emergency plan.
All components of the medical evacuation process
(personnel, vehicles, equipment, training,
communications, etc.) should be audited at regular
intervals by the company.
See the Annexes for further details.
Adequate medical structures
The medical emergency chain includes primary,
secondary and tertiary HCUs:
G
The primary HCU is the local unit covering the
entire workforce involved in the operations. It
could be the worksite clinic or a designated
third-party clinic nearby. Its key functions are:
the provision of emergency response and

medical care to resuscitate a casualty; and
participation in the MERP in case the patient

is to be transferred to the secondary or
tertiary HCU.
G
The secondary HCU is usually a hospital, and is
used when the capabilities of the primary HCU
are exceeded. Its key functions are:
the management of inpatient medical and

surgical cases requiring investigation and/or
treatment;
the emergency resuscitation and stabilization

of casualties, in preparation for their referral
to a tertiary HCU if necessary; and
participation in the MERP in case the casualty

is to be transferred to the tertiary HCU.
G
The tertiary HCU shall be able to handle
critical conditions that exceed the capabilities
of the secondary HCU. Such conditions
include, but are not limited to: major trauma;
neurosurgery; severe burns; cardiac surgery;
high-risk pregnancy; complex tropical diseases;
organ failure and transplant; oncology; and
major psychoses. This advanced tertiary HCU
may not be available in some countries, in
which case it is desirable to identify such a
7
Table 1 Guidance on response times for provision of basic life support and immediate first aid
Response time Responder Site of health care
Site of the incident
Site of the incident (Level 2) or
field first-aid station (Level 3)
Designated primary health-care unit
Secondary and tertiary health-care unit
Level 1 health-care provider
Level 2 health-care provider or
Level 3 health-care professional
< 4 minutes
< 20 minutes
< 1 hour
< 6 hours
facility in another country or in the country of
origin of the casualty.
Medical emergency response plan
(MERP)
The medical emergency response plan should:
G
be risk and scenario based (e.g. pandemic,
food-borne illness outbreak, infectious diseases
such as varicella and influenza-like illnesses),
and should include mass casualty planning;
G
identify the designated health/medical
provider(s) involved in the plan, together with
their capabilities and limitations (these providers
could be under the direct control of the company
or a third party; if the latter, a formal agreement
on the level of medical support should be made);
G
determine the likely evacuation route(s) and
means of transport from the incident location to
the place(s) of medical careparticular
attention is required regarding transportation
limitations (e.g. distances, mode of transport,
weather limitations, etc.) and consideration
should be given to requirements for local
authority/government authorization prior to
evacuation out of the country;
G
include contact details for key personnel; and
G
include contact information for all individuals
who are covered by the MERPsuch persons
should be advised that they must have a valid
passport and appropriate visa in case
evacuation out of the country is required.
Effectiveness of a MERP
To be effective, the MERP should be:
G
developed systematically before the start of any
activity;
G
communicated effectively and well understood;
G
designed so that important actions are taken in
parallel (different actions should be taken at the
same time) and not in series (actions should not
be taken one after the other);
G
integrated into the companys more general
emergency response plans;
G
under the responsibility of line management;
G
organized in collaboration with both company
and client health-care professionals where
subcontractors are involved; and
G
tested and reviewed regularly through structured
drills.
Drills, review and revision
Drills
Once the MERP has been developed it should be
practised regularly and should include testing of all
logistical support required, e.g. communications,
transport. The results of drills should be reviewed
and the plan revised if necessary.
The extent of resource deployment during drills
should be predetermined by management and
company-designated health-care professionals. This
should include scenario planning, as well as
simulated events addressing triage for multiple
cases, followed by a thorough debriefing.
Review following medical emergency
A debriefing should be conducted after each use of
the MERP so that the company can make
improvements if necessary.
Regular revision
The MERP should be audited and revised if
necessary, at least annually and following any
significant change in circumstances, e.g. type of
operation, location or health-care resources.
Contractors
Where suitable, contractor companies should
develop their own MERP, compatible with that of
the client company. Alternatively, the company may
include contractors in its own MERP but this must
be formally established prior to the start of
operations.
IPIECA
OGP
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A system should be established which provides
access to primary, secondary and emergency
medical facilities, as well as to occupational health
expertise where appropriate, and which is
underpinned by a systematic approach to
maintaining and improving the quality of care
within the health system.
Governance
This approach to improving the quality of health-
care is described in some countries as clinical
governance. The important elements of this
governance system that are applicable to oil and
gas field medical activities are described below,
and include:
G
managing clinical effectiveness;
G
managing risk;
G
patient safety and incident reporting; and
G
using evidence.
Managing clinical effectiveness
Clinical effectiveness can be described as the right
person doing:
G
the right thing (evidence-based practice);
G
in the right way (skills and competence);
G
at the right time (providing treatment/services
when the patient needs them);
G
in the right place (location of treatment/services);
and
G
with the right result (clinical effectiveness/
maximizing health gain).
Evidence that clinical effectiveness is being utilized
in a health-care system includes the following
important activities:
G
Clinical or medical audit to critically review
current practice.
G
The identification of treatment outcome
measures.
G
The presence of protocols/processes in support
of clinical governance.
Managing risk
There are various day-to-day risks involved in the
running of field medical operations. Things that
could, and can, go wrong include: slips, trips and
falls involving medical staff, patients and the public;
administrative errors that impact on patient care;
and clinical incidents that have a direct effect on
the outcome of patient care.
Risk management is a standardized process used in
industry to reduce occupational injuries, errors,
faults and accidents, and at the same time improve
quality. Companies need to manage risk at two
overlapping levels:
G
the strategic/management level; and
G
the day-to-day staff/patient operational level.
Risk management is seen as an essential
component in the delivery of safe and effective
care. The development of a risk management
matrix will be influenced by a mix of local
legislative and regulatory requirements as well as
by specific standard-based company guidance.
Evidence that risk management is being utilized in
a health-care system includes the following
important activities:
G
Availability of risk management documents, e.g.
risk assessment protocols, logs, register, action
plans, etc.
G
Identifying and learning from risks across the
company; this could involve coordinating and
communicating information from different sources.
9
Management of ill health in the workplace
Risk management is
an essential
component in the
delivery of safe and
effective care;
creating a culture
that values
complaints and the
reporting of
incidents is an
essential part of risk
management.
G
Incident reporting of errors and near misses.
G
Clinical effectiveness and audit projects that may
impact or influence risk.
G
Complaints and claims management that identify
risks.
G
Clinical outcome indicators that tell you whether
you have achieved what you want from an
intervention.
Company health-care professionals need to know
that they will be supported in the identification,
reporting and management of risks in their work
area. Creating a culture that values complaints and
the reporting of incidents is an essential part of risk
management.
Patient safety and incident reporting
Research indicates that, in developed health
management systems, around 10% of patient
contacts result in harm to patients or staff. It is
estimated that half of these harmful or adverse
incidents are preventable. Clinical incidents and
near misses, where there is no harm to the patient,
highlight the need for appropriate action to be
taken to reduce or manage risks. Reporting and
learning from such events is part of the risk
management process to protect the safety of
patients and health-care staff.
Evidence that patient safety and incident reporting
are being utilized in a health-care system includes:
G
Procedures for reporting and analysis of clinical
errors and incidents.
For further information on patient safety see
Scally and Donaldson 1998
5
, IoM 1999
6
and
DH 2000
7
.
Using evidence
Clinical decisions about treatments and services
should be made on the basis of the best available
evidence to make sure care is safe and effective.
Health professionals need to have the correct skills
to identify and assess information from a variety of
evidence sources to help them make decisions
about care. Health-care professional development
involves keeping up to date and reviewing practice
on a regular basis.
Activity in the following important areas
demonstrates that evidence is being used in a
health-care system:
G
Use of evidence-based practice.
G
Development of clinical guidelines.
G
Procedure for continuing professional
development (CPD) of health-care staff.
Medical facilities at location
Strategic health management (SHM) principles should
be applied wherever needed and practicable
8
.
SHM involves systematic, cooperative planning in
each phase of the lifecycle of a project to protect
the health of the workforce and promote lasting
improvements in the health of the host community.
Primary care facility
In some locations it may be sufficient to appoint a
local doctor as a general practitioner to provide for
the workforce. In other locations it may be
necessary to develop a company clinic, which
could include bringing in expatriate medical staff to
provide care or work alongside local medical staff.
IPIECA
OGP
10
5
Scally, G. and Donaldson, L. J., 1998. Clinical governance and the drive for quality improvement in the new NHS in England.
In BMJ (British Medical Journal) 317:61, pp. 6165. Published 4 July 1998.
6
IoM, 1999. To Err is Human: Building a safer health system. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Washington DC, USA.
7
DH, 2000. An organisation with a memory: Report of an expert group on learning from adverse events in the NHS.
Department of Health, London, UK.
8
OGP, 2000. Strategic health management: principles and guidelines for the oil & gas industry. OGP report number 6.88/307.
Secondary care facility
In most locations the company will identify
approved local clinics or hospitals for further care.
Emergency medical care
The requirements for provision of emergency
medical care are described on pages 5 to 8.
Annex 3 provides further information about the
knowledge and skill requirements for health
professionals, and the medical equipment
requirements for primary, secondary and
emergency medical facilities.
An example of a template to assist with auditing a
local medical facility can be found in Annex 4.
Occupational health-care facility
An occupational health-care facility may be set up
to provide the following:
G
clinical health surveillance of employees hired
locally or from outside the region;
G
immunizations;
G
evaluation of health aspects of catering, living
accommodation, waste disposal and water
testing;
G
support for evaluation and management of
occupational health risks;
G
arrangements for first-aid and training;
G
conforming to local occupational health
legislation;
G
briefing new arrivals on local health risks;
G
fitness for task, rehabilitation and return to work
assessments
9
; and
G
support for human resources employment
policies and procedures.
In some locations it may be sufficient to appoint a
local doctor as an occupational health practitioner
for the workforce, whilst in other locations it may
be necessary to bring in expatriate medical staff to
provide occupational health support.
Clinical health surveillance should be the
responsibility of a doctor who has knowledge of
preventative health care, ideally in the relevant
occupational health setting. A nurse working
directly under the supervision of such a doctor can
carry out some of the procedures.
Legislation regarding immunizations and their
administration varies from country to country.
Usually, a nurse may give immunizations provided
that she is acting under the written direction of a
doctor who has assessed the nurse's competence
to immunize and deal competently with any
adverse reactions.
Evaluation of the health and hygiene aspects of
catering, living accommodation, waste disposal
and water testing should only be done by a doctor,
nurse or other health professional who has
sufficient knowledge and experience to perform the
task in a competent manner.
Support for the evaluation and management of
occupational health risks should only be performed
by a health professional that has sufficient
knowledge and experience to perform the task in a
competent manner.
11
An occupational
health-care facility
may be established to
provide a range of
services including, for
example, fitness to
work assessments,
health surveillance of
the workforce,
briefing new arrivals
on site, first-aid
training, vaccinations,
and more.
9
OGP-IPIECA, 2011. Fitness to work: Guidance for company and contractor health, HSE and HR professionals.
First-aid training should only be given by a health
professional competent and certified to give such
training.
Pharmaceutical and inventory
management
Pharmaceutical and inventory management is, in
principle, no different at field locations than at
medical facilities in more accessible locations,
though logistics and cold chain management may
be more challenging.
A cold chain
10
is a temperature-controlled supply
chain, which aims at maintaining the product at a
given temperature range, thus extending and
assuring the shelf life of pharmaceutical drugs.
One common temperature range for a cold chain
in the pharmaceutical industry is from 2 to 8C,
but the specific temperature (and time at
temperature) tolerances depend on the actual drug
or vaccine being transported. Remoteness, hot
climate and customs delays pose well-known risks
in relation to keeping the cold chain unbroken.
Some common ways to achieve an unbroken cold
chain include the use of refrigerator trucks,
specialized packaging and temperature data
loggers, as well as carrying out a thorough
analysis, including taking measurements and
maintaining documentation.
At some geographical locations, the type and
availability of controlled drugs, as well as the
definition of what constitutes a controlled drug,
may vary. However, whilst this is business as
usual for most companies, local legislation
relating to controlled drugs must be respected to
ensure that the correct procedures are in place for
the receipt, storage, record keeping and disposal
of such drugs.
Companies operating in remote locations have
typically learnt to inspect not expect, and such an
approach applies also to the need for
pharmaceuticals and related inventory.
It is important to ensure that labelling, instruction
leaflets and procedures relating to pharmaceuticals
match the language competence of the staff
handling the medication. All pharmaceuticals on
site should be stored securely with regular periodic
checks of stock. It may be better to have a good
standard inventory which is well known to staff
than to add on a number of more advanced drugs
with which staff are unfamiliar.
Medical field services are often supplied by
medical service providers or seismic contractor
companies. Where this is the case, the operator
company must include pharmaceutical-related
issues in their risk assessment and follow-up.
Medical equipment management
and maintenance
Medical equipment management includes the
business processes (e.g. procurement, installation
and commissioning, training, maintenance and
repair, record keeping, inventory management,
decontamination and disposal) used in the
interaction and oversight of the medical equipment
involved in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring
of patients. It is a recognized profession within the
medical logistics domain.
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Management of
pharmaceutical
inventory may
prove challenging
in some locations
for a number of
reasons, including
climate, culture and
local legislation.
10
Adapted from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_chain
A systematic approach to the management of
medical equipment should be taken to minimize
the risks associated with its use. This should
include the purchasing, deployment, maintenance,
repair and disposal of medical equipment. It is
essential that whenever an item of medical
equipment is used, it is:
G
suitable for (and only used for) its intended
purpose;
G
used in accordance with manufacturers
instructions;
G
properly understood by the professional user,
i.e. staff should be appropriately trained and
competent;
G
maintained in a safe and reliable condition;
G
recorded on a database;
G
selected and acquired in accordance with the
companys recommendations; and
G
disposed of appropriately at the end of its useful
life.
A complete description of the requirements of a
comprehensive medical equipment management
system is beyond the scope of this guideline
document. See MHRA 2006
11
for more information
on this subject.
The health and welfare of the local
workforce
Globalization has had an impact on the health,
safety, well-being and culture of populations
worldwide, as have new technologies, workplace
organization, work practices, mobility and
demographic trends. All of this has been
associated with new types of diseases and health
concerns among the working population and their
families, together with an increased awareness of
health issues.
A workforce may consist of a combination of local,
national and international staff, and short- and
long-term contractors and rotators. Their terms of
contract will be equally diverse but, as a guideline,
the health-care provisions should follow the
principles set out in this document.
Management has a duty of care and must be
sensitive to the diversity and individual
requirements of its workforce and their dependants.
Elements that should be considered by
management and, in particular, by health-care
personnel include:
G
occupation;
G
literacy, education and training;
G
culture;
G
language;
G
religion;
G
tradition;
G
superstition;
G
gender;
G
family;
G
dietary habits;
G
sanitation;
G
hygiene standards;
13
The workforce may
consist of a
combination of
local, national and
international staff;
management
should be sensitive
to the diversity and
requirements of its
workforce and their
dependants.
11
MHRA, 2006. Managing medical devices: guidance for health-care and social services organisations. Medicines and Health-
care products Regulatory Agency, report number DB2006(05), November 2006. Available from the MHRA website at:
www.mhra.gov.uk/Publications/Safetyguidance/DeviceBulletins/CON2025142
The importance of
familiarity with
cultural norms of
the workforce
cannot be
overemphasized.
G
public health;
G
endemic conditions;
G
medical and health briefs;
G
alternative and traditional medicine;
G
local law and political climate; and
G
safety culture (fatalism and education).
The importance of familiarity with cultural norms of
the workforce cannot be overemphasized.
Medical aspects of health care in a
local environment
There should be close cooperation between:
G
national health-care workers;
G
company health representatives;
G
local health-care authorities; and
G
relevant stakeholders.
Health-care personnel should take into account the
diversity of the population they serve. In some
countries, distance and access to certain specialities
should be taken into account, as should racial,
cultural and religious aspects, for example:
G
all individuals being treated with equal respect;
G
womens needs to be treated by female health-
care personnel;
G
fasting periods required by religious practices;
G
requirement for the provision of interpreters;
G
the impact of religion and culture on health
education programmes; and
G
the complementary benefits of traditional and
western medical practices.
Communication
Effective communication is essential for any
operation and, in particular, for the management of
health-related problems.
Communication can be performed by:
G
telephone (fixed phone, mobile, satellite);
G
radio;
G
fax;
G
computers (e-mail, Internet);
G
video transmission; and
G
telemedicine (see below).
Communication is necessary to enable the health
professional in the field to contact company health
professionals, approved specialists, relevant
authorities, medical evacuation companies and
managers. It enables health professionals to obtain
advice, provide appropriate medical care, obtain
necessary medication and material, and access
medical websites and online medical journals to
update their knowledge, organize medical
evacuations and keep management informed of
relevant medical decisions.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine can be defined as the use of
telecommunication technologies to deliver medical
information and services to locations at a distance
from the care giver or educator.
Telemedicine may be as simple as two health
professionals discussing a case over the telephone,
or as complex as using satellite technology and
videoconferencing equipment to conduct a real-
time consultation between medical specialists in two
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14
different countries. It can be used to provide medical
consultations (routine or emergency), advice and
assistance in diagnosis and treatment by providing
a second opinion with a specialist. It can be used
to coordinate and interpret diagnostic procedures
and to transmit laboratory and radiological results
(electrocardiogram, medical imaging, etc.).
Telemedicine can also help the isolated health
professional by providing on-site education.
Telemedicine can be broken into three main
categories:
G
store-and-forward;
G
remote monitoring; and
G
interactive services.
Store-and-forward telemedicine: involves
acquiring medical data (like medical images,
biosignals etc.) and then transmitting these data to
another health-care professional at a convenient
time for assessment offline. It does not require the
presence of both parties at the same time. The
store-and-forward process requires the clinician to
rely on a history report and audio/video
information in lieu of a physical examination.
Remote monitoring: also known as self-monitoring
or self-testing, enables medical professionals to
monitor a patient remotely using various
technological devices. This method is used primarily
for managing chronic diseases or specific
conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus
or asthma. This service can provide health
outcomes comparable to traditional in-person
patient encounters, supply greater satisfaction to
patients, and may be cost-effective.
Interactive telemedicine services: provide real-time
interactions between patient and provider, and
include telephone conversations, online
communication and home visits. Many activities,
such as history review, physical examination,
psychiatric evaluations and ophthalmology
assessments, can be conducted comparably to
those done in traditional face-to-face visits. In
addition, clinician-interactive telemedicine services
may be less costly than in-person clinical visits.
Ideally, telemedicine requires a computer, a digital
camera, diverse adapted diagnostic equipment,
acceptable communication systems (sufficient
bandwidth) and an agreement with specialized
health-care providers. However, a basic telephone
call or e-mail with a scanned or digital picture or
X-ray attached can suffice in many cases.
A number of problems remain to be solved
concerning telemedicine, including privacy,
confidentiality and security, as well as medico-legal
responsibility and payment.
15
Well-established
communication
systems are
essential for the
effective
management of
health-related
issues and
emergencies.
The purpose of a fitness for task assessment is to
ensure proper placement of prospective employees
in job positions that will match their capabilities
without risk to themselves or co-workers.
The employees health status should be compatible
with their job position and confirmed by fitness for
task assessments as required
12
.
The fitness for task assessment is to be conducted
by an appropriately qualified health-care
professional, who will determine the extent of the
assessment, dependent on the essential/required
job position functions and country legal
requirements. Typical components include a
comprehensive health history, routine blood work
and urinalysis, audiometric and pulmonary function
tests, and visual acuity testing. More specific
medical examinations may be required for specific
workplace exposures. Other tests such as functional
capacity evaluation or trade testing may be
required for particular job groups.
The fitness for task assessment should:
G
use appropriate methods to detect relevant
health issues that could impact future work
capabilities;
G
cover both physical and mental health;
G
maintain employee confidentiality;
G
comply with local regulatory agencies and
industry standards;
G
reduce employer liability and be cost-effective;
G
have reasonable accommodation where
appropriate/required;
G
assess the employees compatibility with the
demands of the job without risk to the employee
or co-workers; and
G
ensure proper placement of prospective
employees in jobs that will match their
capabilities.
The frequency and content of a fitness for task
assessment will be dependent on:
G
the type of job tasks and inherent health risks;
G
the type, amount, duration and frequency of
workplace exposure; and
G
local regulatory legislation and industry
standards.
Other factors that may influence the frequency and
content of an assessment include the employees
age, past medical history and current health status.
Health surveillance is the specific examination of
certain aspects of health which may be affected by
identified workplace health hazards. While this
process may include some similar testing to routine
fitness for task assessments, the purpose is different.
The health surveillance process monitors the
potential effect of the job on the individual, not
suitability for task. Health surveillance is also an
ongoing process, although periodicity may be
different from a fitness for task assessment. It may
be conducted in conjunction with fitness for task
assessments where convenient and appropriate.
Where pre-placement health assessments are
considered necessary, they should be conducted
after an offer of employment is made. They should
be designed to verify the suitability of new
employees for their job positions in accordance
with their physical and mental capacities and the
physical, psychosocial and environmental demands
of the job, and should accommodate individuals
with medical conditions or disabilities where
possible. The assessments aim to ensure that the
new employee does not have any health-related
condition that may be aggravated by the job duties
or that may affect the health and safety of co-
workers. Pre-placement assessments also provide
baseline data against which future evaluative data
can be measured.
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Fitness for task assessment and health surveillance
12
OGP-IPIECA, 2007. Health performance indicators: A guide for the oil and gas industry. OGP report number 393.
Industrial development projects can give rise to
health impacts, both positive and negative, and the
oil and gas industry is no different. A health impact
assessment (HIA) is a combination of procedures,
methods and tools by which a project may be
judged according to its potential effects on the
health of a population and the distribution of those
effects within that population. This applies outside
the fence, i.e. to the local community population
and other stakeholders who may be impacted by
activities at the companys field operational site.
The intent of an HIA is to predict potential positive
and negative community health impacts from a
project and to facilitate either avoidance or
reduction of the negative impacts on human health.
HIA is complementary to environmental and social
impact assessment and, in many cases, can be
carried out at the same time using shared core
information. The jointly published OGP-IPIECA
Guide to health impact assessments
13
contains
in-depth information and practical tools for
application on the ground.
17
Health impact assessment
Reporting of health information will normally be
required or requested from an operation by
several different organizations. There will likely be
a legal requirement for reporting, either by host
or home country legislation which must be
complied with. Internal reporting to both local and
corporate management is normally a routine
requirement. Industry representative bodies may
also request information.
Legislative reporting
Legislative reporting is normally non-negotiable.
The information requested, and the form of
presentation, will be governed by the relevant
health and safety laws applicable to the operation.
There is wide variation between countries as to the
nature and amount of this information but, in
general, this will normally relate to occupational
illness and infectious disease. This information may
not be anonymous and could require the
identification of individual employees, in which
case circulation of reporting documents should be
restricted, ideally to the health department only,
where possible.
Internal reporting
All companies should require internal reporting of
health information. Occupational and work-related
illness should be treated with the same importance
as an accident or incident, using much of the same
process as that utilized for investigating the cause,
and for improvement, of controls. Occupational
illness is poorly reported industry wide, and
specific efforts should be made to ensure that
instances are identified. The long latent period for
the development of occupational illness means that
many cases are reported a considerable period
after the onset of exposure, possibly after the
individual has changed jobs or locations. Good
health record keeping is therefore essential.
Records of all cases of occupational illness should
be maintained, although only new cases are
normally reported.
Anonymous reporting of grouped health data will
identify areas where targeted intervention may
produce cost-effective health improvements. These
can be related to key performance indicators which
are important to quantify effectiveness of health
programmes, justify health expenditure and plan
Health reporting and record management
13
OGP-IPIECA, 2005. A guide to health impact assessments in the oil and gas industry.
health provision. For guidance on the identification
of appropriate health performance indicators see
OGP-IPIECA 2007
14
.
Company corporate functions will normally require
anonymous reporting of health data in order to
map illness trends at a global level to allow strategic
planning of health services. This information may be
different from that required locally.
Industry reporting
Industry representative bodies may request health
information that relates to initiatives that they are
involved in. These may be ongoing projects (e.g.
HSE statistics) which can be useful tools for industry
benchmarking, or may be a targeted piece of
research. Participation in this type of reporting is
essentially optional but may be a requirement of
membership of the body.
Record management
Good health records are essential not only for
reporting but for the protection of patient, health
professional and company. Companies should
develop standards for health record management
which comply with appropriate legislation, corporate
standards and international best practice.
Health records are defined as any information
pertaining to the medical or occupational
assessment, care, treatment, surveillance or other
intervention related to the health of the individual.
Health records must be kept for each employee and
should detail each medical contact, intervention or
communication. They should be identifiable as
belonging to a specific individual and must be
accurate, contemporaneous and legible. They may
be physical or electronic records.
Records must be kept secure and accessible only to
health department staff who must have signed a
confidentiality agreement. Identifiable health data
may be shared with other health professionals if
either implied or expressed consent is obtained
from the individual.
In order to service the various requirements for
health reporting, relevant data sufficient for
reporting requirements should be maintained in the
health records. To ensure uniformity, a health coding
system such as ICD 9
15
will enable standardization
across different areas of the business.
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Occupational illness
is often poorly
reported, but
should be given the
same importance
as reporting an
accident or incident
occurring at the
work site.
14
OGP-IPIECA, 2007. Health performance indicators: a guide for the oil and gas industry. OGP report number 393.
15
ICD 9: International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition: a widely used classification system employed to codify diseases
and medical conditions.
19
Public health interface and promotion of good health
Corporate social responsibility
Entering into sustainable partnerships with
governments and host communities in order to
facilitate improvements in health may form part of a
companys corporate social responsibility
programme. Such effective partnerships with
stakeholders, based on consultation and respect for
host culture, can take many forms but does not
necessarily involve building expensive facilities or
infrastructure. Increasingly, corporate social
responsibility health projects are related to
preventive health care and may build on existing
government or community health programmes
involving local capacity building (see OGP 2000
16
).
Good social responsibility programmes will
necessitate professional risk assessment, extensive
dialogue and management of expectations and a
good understanding of local context. Ultimately,
corporate social responsibility may be seen as
mitigation of social risk, as well as forming the
basis of the industrys licence to operate. To most
companies it is just the right way of doing business.
The International Standard ISO 26000:2010,
Guidance on Social Responsibility, provides
globally relevant guidance for organizations of all
types based on international consensus among
expert representatives of the main stakeholder
groups. The ISO 26000:2010 Standard only
contains voluntary guidance on social responsibility
and is therefore not used as a certification standard.
Food and water safety standards
Food and water safety presents unique challenges
in field operations in extremely remote settings, but
needs to be actively managed even in urban
areas. During construction phases, groups of
workers live in temporary, mobile camps where
kitchen facilities are continuously built and
dismantled and there is significant risk to workers
of both morbidity and mortality from microbial,
chemical and physical contamination of the food
and water supply. In addition, there is substantial
company reputational risk associated with
insufficient food and water safety planning. Food-
and water-related illnesses could, potentially,
cause an operation to be shut down.
For guidance on how to organize a food and water
safety management programme see OGP-IPIECA
2009
17
. Requirements and standards for food and
water safety need to be included in tenders from all
suppliers of goods and services pertaining to food
Integrating health
projects into a
companys corporate
social responsibility
programme can
complement existing
government or
community health
programmes and
support local
capacity building.
16
OGP, 2000. Strategic health management: principles and guidance for the oil and gas industry. OGP report number 6.88/307,
June 2000.
17
OGP-IPIECA 2009. A guide to food and water safety for the oil and gas industry. OGP report number 397.
and water. The standards should benefit all
personnel on site, including all contractors.
Sewage and sanitation
Sanitation
Disease-causing organisms, including viruses,
bacteria and eggs or larvae of parasites may all be
present in human faeces. These microorganisms
may enter the body through faecally-contaminated
food, water, and eating and cooking utensils, and
by contact with other contaminated objects.
Diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid are spread in this
way and are major causes of sickness and death.
Some fly species and cockroaches are attracted to,
or breed, in faeces. High fly densities will increase
the risk of transmission of trachoma and Shigella
dysentery. Intestinal worm infections (hookworm,
whipworm and others) are transmitted through
contact with soil that has been contaminated with
faeces, and may spread rapidly where open
defecation occurs and people walk barefoot.
Facilities for disposing of excreta must be designed
and built to avoid contamination of water sources
that will be used for drinking-water. Any successful
measure for managing human excreta includes the
principles of separation, containment and destruction.
Whatever form of toilet is designed and built, it must
fulfil these three functions to minimize health risks.
To ensure a sustainable solution, it is important to
take into account local custom as well as the
availability of water. Some field operations may need
to have several solutions in the same camp, e.g.
simple screened cubicles with concrete slabs and
pour-flush toilets, as well as Western-style water
closets. Hand washing facilities should always include
hot and cold water, liquid soap, disposable towels
and foot-pedal operated or other non-touch, lidded
disposal units. Stickers or other information on the
importance of hand washing should be available.
Communal facilities should be of a sufficient number
and be regularly cleaned by staff who are
adequately trained and equipped. Clean latrines
help to encourage proper use of the facilities; dirty
latrines inevitably lead to carelessness and
unsanitary defecation practices in and around them.
Routine inspection by supervisors is necessary to
ensure that cleaning standards are maintained.
Latrines should be sited no more than 50 metres
from users living quarters, to encourage their use,
but sufficiently far away (at least 6 metres) to
reduce problems from odours and pests.
Sullage
Wastewater from kitchens, bathrooms and
laundries is called sullage. It can contain
disease-causing organisms, particularly from soiled
clothing, but its main health hazard
occurs when it collects in poorly drained places
and causes pools of organically polluted
water that may serve as breeding places for Culex
mosquitoes. This genus of mosquitoes
transmits some viruses as well as the parasitic
disease lymphatic filariasis. Mosquitoes that
transmit malaria do not breed in polluted water.
Solid waste
Rats, dogs, cats, birds and other animals, which
may be carriers (reservoirs) of disease-causing
organisms, are attracted to discarded food,
Toilet facilities should
be appropriately
located and
maintained at a
high level of
cleanliness; sewage
disposal measures
should be carefully
designed and built
to avoid
contamination of
drinking water
sources.
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21
Attention should be
given to the
treatment and
disposal of solid
waste, especially
medical waste from
field site clinics, to
prevent or minimize
the potential risks of
infection.
clothing, medical dressings and other components
of solid waste. Small rainwater collections in solid
waste such as discarded car tyres or oil drums
may serve as the breeding places for Aedes
mosquitoes, vectors of the dengue virus.
Medical waste from field site clinics may present a
special challenge and could typically contain the
following categories of waste: infectious waste;
pathological waste; sharps (i.e. syringes, blades,
glass, etc.); pharmaceutical waste; chemical waste;
waste with high heavy metal content; and
pressurized containers. The safe and appropriate
disposal of medical waste is critical to preventing
or minimizing the risk of transmitting
microorganisms and potential infections.
Storage, collection, treatment and
disposal of sullage and solid waste
Management of health risks related to storage,
collection, treatment and disposal of sullage and
solid waste will depend on the source, quantity
and nature of wastewater and solid waste as well
as soil, topography, climate and other factors that
may determine which options are possible.
Legislation controlling the handling, collection and
disposal of medical waste is extensive and varies by
country. Sharp items, such as hypodermic needles
and syringes, cannulas and surgical blades, should
be disposed of in dedicated, sealed after-use
containers. Contaminated consumables such as
bandages, gauzes, plasters, cotton tampons, surgical
dressings and gloves, must be stored separately from
non-medical waste and shall be disposed of
separately as per local laws and regulations, or
incinerated. It should be compulsory for all personnel
handling medical waste to use appropriate PPE, such
as gloves (disposable and one-time use); face mask
(covering the mouth and nose); protection glasses
(for eye protection); and long-sleeve coveralls.
A complete description of the treatment and
disposal of sullage and solid waste is beyond the
scope of this document.
For further information on the topics in this section,
see the references below:
G
Water supply and sanitation assessment and
programme design
18,19,20,21
G
Solid waste management
22
G
Surface water and waste water drainage
20,23
G
Management of medical waste.
24,25
18
WHO, 2003. Environmental health in emergencies and disasters: a practical guide. Eds. Wisner, B. and Adams, J.
World Health Organization. ISBN 92-4-154541-0. 272 pages, English only. Order No. 11500487.
www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/emergencies/emergencies2002/en/index.html
19
The Sphere Project, 2000. Humanitarian charter and minimum standards in disaster response. Chapter 2: Minimum standards
in water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion. www.sphereproject.org/content/view/38/5/lang,english
20
Davis, J. and Lambert, R., 2002. Engineering in emergencies: A practical guide for relief workers. Second Edition. RedR/IT
Publications, London. 718pp ISBN: 1-85339-521-8.
21
Harvey, P., Baghri, S. and Reed, R. (2002) Emergency sanitation: Assessment and programme design. WEDC, Loughborough
University, UK.
22
UNCHS, 1989. Solid waste management in low income housing projects: the scope for community participation. UNCHS,
Nairobi, Kenya
23
WHO, 1991. Surface water drainage for low-income communities. ISBN 92-4-154416-3. World Health Organization, Geneva.
24
Reed, R. and Dean, P. T., 1994. Recommended methods for the disposal of sanitary wastes from temporary field medical
facilities. In: Disasters, Vol.18(4), pp.355-67, December 1994.
25
WHO, 1999. Safe management of wastes from health-care activities. Eds. Prss, A., Giroult, E. and Rushbrook, P.
World Health Organization, Geneva.
Clinical governance
The systematic approach to maintaining and
improving the quality of patient care within a
health system.
Emergency medical technician (EMT)
A term used in some countries to denote a health-
care provider of emergency medical services.
First responder
A term used to refer to the first person to arrive at
an emergency scene.
First-aiders
An individual who is a non-expert, but a trained
person able to provide the initial care for an illness
or injury, usually to a sick or injured person, until
definitive medical treatment can be accessed.
Health management system
A process that applies a disciplined and systematic
approach to managing health in company activities.
Health-care system
A complex of facilities, organizations and trained
personnel engaged in providing health care within
a geographical area.
Medical emergency response plan (MERP)
A site-specific emergency response plan for dealing
with injury or illness to a worker.
Occupational disease
Any illness associated with a particular occupation
or industry.
Occupational health hazard
Any source of potential damage to, or harm or
adverse health effects on a person, resulting from
conditions at work.
Occupational health service
A service established in or near a place of
employment for the purposes of:
(a) protecting the workers against any health
hazard which may arise out of their work or
the conditions in which it is carried out;
(b) contributing towards the workers physical and
mental adjustment, in particular by the
adaptation of the work to the workers and their
assignment to jobs for which they are suited;
and
(c) contributing to the establishment and
maintenance of the highest possible degree of
physical and mental well-being of the workers.
Strategic health management
Systematic, cooperative planning throughout the
project life cycle to maintain the health of the
workforce and promote lasting improvements in the
health of the host community.
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Glossary
23
Annex 1: Health audit for managers
The template in Table 2 (below) provides an example
of a self-audit that managers can perform in order to
assess their health provision (this can be adapted to
meet different companies needs). It is based on
data from OGP Report No. 423, HSE management:
guidelines for working together in a contract
environment, published in June 2010.
The questions in the table are examples of the
information that can be collected and assessed. The
scoring system is 0, I, 2 where 0 is no provision,
1 is partial compliance and 2 is full compliance.
The information obtained can be used to measure
health performance and improvement, to set targets
and prioritize action points for local management.
Table 2 Questionnaire for contractor HSE capability assessment
0 1 2 Comments
1. Leadership and commitment
2. Policy and strategic objectives
3. Organization, responsibilities and resources
Are health issues regularly addressed at leadership/
management meetings?
Are sufficient resources allocated to health in the location?
Is the improvement of health an overall corporate
strategy/value?
Is a positive health culture promoted at all levels?
Are all senior managers setting a personal example to
others?
Location: ....................................................................... Assessment conducted by: ..........................................................
Position: ......................................................................... Date of assessment: ....................................................................
Remarks: .....................................................................................................................................................................................
Is there a written HSE policy that makes reference to the
importance of health that is dated and signed by the
chief executive?
Are policy statements issued to cover specific aspects
(e.g. alcohol, substance abuse, smoking, AIDS)?
Are health objectives clearly defined at location level?
Are all employees aware of the companys health
policies and objectives?
Have all employees had first-aid training?
Have all employees had hygiene training?
Have all employees had health training?
Do all employees undergo pre-placement/periodic health
assessment?
Are vaccination requirements clearly defined at the
location level?
Are first-aid requirements clearly defined at the location level?
continued
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Table 2 Questionnaire for contractor HSE capability assessment (continued)
0 1 2 Comments
3. Organization, responsibilities and resources (continued)
Does the location have the adequate number of HCP(s)?
Has the locations HCP been recertified/retrained as per
company standards?
Does the locations health-care professional have a job
description matching his/her responsibilities?
Does the organization chart clearly show the positions
of HCP and their line of reporting?
Is the locations HCP familiar with the standards of the
company health assessments?
Is the location manager kept informed by the HCP of
major health risks?
Does the HCP participate actively in HSE meetings?
Does the HCP understand the main hazards and risks of
the operation?
Has the HCP taken action to reduce the risk?
Is the HCP familiar with the medical emergency response
plan (MERP) and has he/she participated in its preparation?
Does the HCP have a confidential medical file for each
employee?
Applicable only if there is a company health-care professional (HCP):
Is the facility inspected/audited on a regular basis?
Does the facility meet company standards?
Does the facility have equipment and medication as per
company requirements?
Is the necessary emergency equipment available as per
company recommendations?
Is medication kept in a dry and safe area?
Are controlled/dangerous drugs kept locked away?
Are medication expiry dates respected?
Are records maintained and securely stored in a
confidential manner?
Are records maintained for equipment?
Are records maintained for medication?
Is medical waste disposed of correctly?
Applicable only if there is a company medical facility:
25
0 1 2 Comments
3. Organization, responsibilities and resources (continued)
4. Contractor and supplier management
5. Risk management
Is the vehicle in good working condition?
Is a trained ambulance driver available 24 hours a day?
Is the ambulance equipped according to company requirements?
Do drivers have a periodic health assessment as per company
policy?
Applicable only if there is a company ambulance:
Has the local hospital been audited as per company
requirements?
Does it meet cleanliness and hygiene standards?
Is there a well-equipped emergency room?
Does the emergency room function 24 hours a day?
Is there an intensive-care unit?
Is there a doctor on call 24 hours a day?
Does the hospital have its own ambulance?
Is the hospitals telephone number known?
Is there an interpreter?
Are contractors aware of the companys health
requirements and standards?
Do contractors employees all have a health assessment?
Do drivers have a periodic health assessment as per
company policy?
Does the catering staff have appropriate health
assessment/hygiene training?
Does the contractor have a medical emergency response
plan (MERP)?
Does the contractor have medical evacuation coverage?
Has a health risk assessment (HRA) been developed at
the location?
Is there an occupational health programme in place,
based on the HRA, that: identifies health hazards;
assesses the health risks; provides for the control of health
hazards; identifies PPE and prophylactic requirements;
provides emergency cover; and applies to all work sites?
Applicable only if there is a local hospital (secondary care facility):
continued
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0 1 2 Comments
5. Risk management (continued)
6. Planning and procedures
Is there a welfare programme in place that meets the
needs of isolated work sites (if applicable)?
Are personnel checked for medical fitness for task by a
recognized and approved medical facility?
Is an ongoing system of health surveillance based on
job-specific health risks in place?
Are all employees up to date with the required
vaccinations?
Do accommodation and catering facilities meet acceptable
standards of hygiene and are they fit for purpose?
Does food storage, handling and preparation meet
acceptable industry standards?
Are the health and hygiene training standards known?
Is the local MERP known?
Is the international MERP known?
Are living quarters designed and maintained according
to acceptable standards?
Do employees know where to get country info on
epidemics/MERP/resources, etc.?
Is health addressed regularly in HSE meetings?
Is the MERP in place for all identified medical
emergency situations, and are the responsibilities of all
involved parties clearly identified?
Is an appropriately manned response centre set up to
coordinate the MERP?
Are all personnel made aware of the MERP and their
individual roles and responsibilities?
Of particular importance in emergency situations is that
instructions are available and understood in the
language of the individualsis this requirement met?
Is the MERP covered in employee HSE orientation?
Are lines of communication clearly identified and tested
with: third-party emergency services; local hospitals;
helicopter services; and Medevac facilities?
Are third-party emergency services aware of their roles
in the MERP?
Medical emergency response plan (MERP):
27
0 1 2 Comments
6. Planning and procedures (continued)
7. Implementation and monitoring
8. Health management audit
9. Management review
TOTAL SCORE:
Are MERPs, both local and international, tested and
practised regularly?
Has the health plan been developed in compliance with
company medical standards?
Have written procedures been developed which cover
different health hazards encountered on location?
Are written procedures available to all employees,
including subcontractors, in their own language?
Are all health procedures controlled documents?
Are health performance indicators (HPIs) identified to measure
health performance?
Is progress against identified HPIs measured regularly?
Does the HCP provide a regular activity report/report health
problems?
Are kitchens, refrigerators, dining rooms and catering staff
regularly inspected by the HCP, and do they comply with
standards?
Are living quarters cleaned and maintained frequently, and
inspected regularly by the HCP?
Is water testing performed and documented?
Are Medevac drills conducted regularly and reviewed, and are
the lessons learned implemented?
Is there a health management audit procedure complying with
the health plan, identifying responsibilities, frequency, method
and follow up.
Are audits planned and line management kept informed?
Have medical resources been audited within the past 12 months?
Has corrective action been taken concerning all the points listed
in the last audit?
Does management undertake a documented review of health
performance at a prescribed frequency, and do they take into
account health incidents and audit findings?
Are the improvements identified documented and
incorporated into an improvement plan?
General requirements for
transportation
G
All methods of transportation should be
approved for use according to defined company
standards and audited on a regular basis.
G
The vehicle (ground vehicle, boat or aircraft)
must be compliant with local law, meet local and
company safety regulations, and undergo
regular maintenance.
G
The vehicle must be ergonomically suitable for
stretcher recovery work, allowing ease of access
for the stretcher as well as the patient escort and
equipment.
G
Secure storage space for the required equipment
and material should be provided.
G
A suitable and approved power supply for
medical equipment within the vehicle should be
provided.
G
Adequate interior and exterior lighting and
climate control should be available.
G
The vehicle operator should be made aware of
patient injury or illness, advise on adverse travel
conditions and agree to undertake the transport.
G
The patient escort must be able to communicate
with the vehicle operator, either directly or via a
headset link.
G
An adequate level of communication between
the patient and the patient escort should be
maintained throughout the evacuation.
G
The patient escort and/or the vehicle operator must
be able to communicate with external support.
G
The patient escort must have sufficient space to
provide care and resuscitation.
General requirements for medical
equipment
All medical supplies and equipment dedicated for
use within the vehicle should be readily accessible,
inventoried and checked. Note that all electrical
medical equipment should have a self-contained
power supply.
The following should be available:
G
oxygen provided via a variable flowmeter and
appropriate masks:
rebreatheable bag masks are necessary if

100% oxygen is required;
normally, a minimum of 3 litres of oxygen is

required per patient per minute, however in
case of trauma, 1015 litres are required per
minute;
G
suction equipment;
G
a mechanism for adequate delivery of intra-
venous fluids;
G
splints (vacuum and traction);
G
spinal immobilization equipment and vacuum
mattress;
G
stretchers (which should meet company safety
regulations, be securely fastened and should
have a patient restraining harness that can be
easily released);
G
automated external defibrillator (AED) or
defibrillator/monitor;
G
PPE and methods for safe disposal of clinical
waste;
G
emergency material and medication as defined
in the Level 3 first-aid kit (see Annex 3).
Medical evacuation by ground transport
Ground vehicle standards for
medical transport
Recommendations in addition to the general
requirements listed above:
G
Vehicles should be suitable for stretcher recovery
work, doors should open fully to allow free and
unrestricted access, and all seats should be fitted
with seat belts. Harnesses should be provided to
make patients secure.
G
The stretcher should be securely fastened to a
vehicle anchor point and preferably have
locking wheels. It should be possible to load the
vehicle with the patient's head towards the front.
G
Seating for the patient escort should be
available at the patients head.
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Annex 2: Guidelines for medical evacuation by ground,
air and water
29
G
The vehicle should be staffed with a minimum of
two peoplea driver and a patient escort.
G
The driver should hold a current driving licence
appropriate for the class and size of the vehicle
with a valid appropriate medical assessment.
G
The patient escort should be a doctor, nurse,
paramedic or first-aider as defined by company
procedures.
Medical evacuation by air transport
Medical evacuation by air is a complex and costly
process that may require prior company approval.
Feasibility of evacuation by air depends upon:
G
access to an appropriate medical facility that
has agreed to receive the patient;
G
an appropriate landing zone and transport to
the medical facility;
G
clinical condition of the patient;
G
weather conditions;
G
availability and type of aircraft;
G
landing and flyover clearances; and
G
visa and travel documents clearance.
In general, family members will not be allowed to
travel with the patient. Medical evacuation by air is
normally contraindicated in the following
circumstances:
G
cardiovascular instability;
G
non-drained gaseous effusion (pneumothorax,
intestinal occlusion); or
G
recent surgical procedures.
Medical evacuation by air normally requires a
patient escort. Standards for patient escorts include
the following:
G
Depending on the complexity and severity of the
medical case and the journey time, more than
one patient escort may be required.
G
Should a doctor, nurse or paramedic be
required, they should have received training in,
and be familiar with, the aviation environment
and impact on patient physiology in flight.
G
In some cases a family member, friend or
colleague may be sufficient. This should be
determined by the company-approved health
professional in association with the carrier.
G
The patient escort must carry sufficient
medications to provide for the anticipated needs
of the patient during the flight, including
additional quantities in case of unexpected
delays.
G
The patient escort must ensure that all medical
equipment has been approved for use on the
aircraft concerned. In addition, an approved
and dedicated power supply for medical
equipment should be available.
G
The patient escort should travel in seating
adjacent to the patient.
Consideration should be given to connecting flights,
transit time and the requirement of commercial
carriers.
Commercial aircraft
Both scheduled and chartered commercial aircraft
can be utilized for seated and stretcher patient
transport. Commercial flights are the first choice for
stable patients needing to be flown long distances.
For stretcher patients an airline-approved stretcher
is necessary; note that this can limit the availability
of commercial aircraft for rapid patient movement.
Medical evacuation by commercial aircraft is
usually contraindicated in the following
circumstances:
G
contagious diseases;
G
agitation;
G
nauseating odours;
G
incontinence;
G
ongoing intensive medical care.
In such cases, special authorization by the airline
and/or pilot is required.
Medical evacuation by scheduled commercial
aircraft imposes additional requirements:
G
The airline must consent to carry the patient by
approving a medical clearance form.
G
The medical clearance form is to be completed
and submitted to the airline as soon as the need
for medical evacuation by this means is
determined (at least 48 hours of advance notice
may be required).
G
If necessary, oxygen should be requested from
the airline (up to 180 litres of oxygen is required
per person per hour).
G
Suction equipment should be available.
G
Conveniently placed hangers or hooks should be
available to support the provision of intravenous
fluids in flight.
Light fixed-wing aircraft and
helicopters
In certain circumstances it may be necessary to use
light fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. Consideration
should be given to:
G
pressurization of the aircraft;
G
stretcher accessibility;
G
pilot awareness concerning the extent of the
injury or illness, and agreement to undertake the
transport;
G
airline and/or pilot clearance of the equipment;
G
in-flight communication between the pilot and
the patient escort.
Air ambulances
Air ambulances may be used to transport patients
who:
G
are seriously ill/injured or have unstable
conditions;
G
would not be accepted by a commercial flight;
G
have urgent conditions in locations where
commercial flights are not available.
Aircraft standards
In certain types of aircraft (e.g. helicopters),
consideration should be given to problems
associated with:
G
noise (hearing protection, communication
between patient escort and patient);
G
vibration;
G
temperature (in helicopters space blankets are
highly recommended);
G
air sickness;
G
psychological distress due to travel conditions;
G
use of certain medical equipment (e.g. defibrillator).
Medical evacuation by water transport
All watercraft which may be used for evacuation
need to be able to accommodate a stretcher case in
a safe, comfortable and secure manner.
Watercraft standards for medical
transport
Additional recommendations include the following:
G
The craft must be ergonomically suitable for
stretcher recovery work and should be equipped
with an appropriate sheltering area or cabin to
protect the patient lying on the stretcher as well
as the medical escort and equipment.
G
It must be equipped with appropriate life jackets
for all on board including the patient, and be
compliant with local water transport safety
regulations.
G
The position of the stretcher should allow the patient
to be aligned along the long axis of the watercraft.
G
Special precautions should be taken when using
electrical equipment (e.g. automatic external
defibrillator) in a wet environment to avoid
electrocution of any personnel.
G
The craft should have a power supply for
powering medical equipment.
G
It should carry a vacuum mattress for spinal
cases and other cases needing immobilization.
These stretchers must be securely fixed to the
watercraft.
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Annex 3: Guidelines for health-care professionals:
knowledge, skills and medical kits
For the purpose of this document, health-care
personnel have been divided into five categories:
G
Level 1 health-care providers: basic first-aider.
G
Level 2 health-care providers: advanced first-
aider and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
G
Level 3 health-care professionals: nurse and
paramedic.
G
Level 4 health-care professionals: medical
doctors and nurses.
G
Level 5 health-care professionals: medical
specialists.
Level 1 health-care providers:
basic first-aider
Knowledge and skills
G
Scene assessment and prevention of secondary
accident (including self protection)
G
Contents and use of Level 1 first-aid kit
G
Priorities (ABCAirway, Breathing and
Circulation)
G
Emergency call-out procedures
G
Relevant safety data sheets
G
Prevention of blood-borne pathogens and other
associated hazards
G
Basic hygiene
G
Use and application of the recovery position
G
Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), possibly
including use of an AED
G
Basic control of external bleeding
G
Application of simple dressings
G
Application of simple splints
G
Eye washing of foreign bodies and chemical
splashes
G
Initial treatment of thermal or chemical injuries
G
Ability to provide clear details of injury/illness.
Level 1 first-aid kit
G
Contents list
G
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation card
G
Individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings
G
Sterile eye pads
G
Surgical tape
G
Triangular bandages
G
Safety pins
G
Medium and large sterile unmedicated dressings
G
Alcohol-free cleaning wipes
G
Surgical gloves
G
Scissors
G
Pocket mask
G
Burns packet (e.g. Water-Jel or equivalent)
G
Bag for clinical waste.
Access to an AED and eye wash facility is
recommended.
Level 2 health-care providers:
advanced first-aider
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) used in
some countries may come under Level 2.
(in addition to Level 1)
G
Contents and use of Level 2 first-aid kit
G
Management of bleeding
G
Management of simple wounds
G
Management of an unconscious person
G
Treatment for shock, hypothermia, heat injury,
immersion, burns
G
Various types of dressings
G
Immobilization of injured parts
G
Transportation of an injured or ill person
G
Communication and delegation in an emergency
G
Specific workplace risks
G
Simple record keeping.
Level 2 first-aid kit
G
Guidance leaflet
G
Butterfly closures
G
Crepe bandages
G
Splints (inflatable or vacuum)
G
Thermometer (digital)
G
Forceps
G
Pocket light
G
Saline solution
G
Burn blanket (space blanket)
G
Tourniquet.
Other abilities
In certain circumstances first aiders may need to
drive or operate radio equipment in order to fulfil
their first-aid responsibilities.
Recertification and maintenance of
skills
First-aid and resuscitation skills decline rapidly
without practice. Recertification should take place
at least every three years. In the interim, skills
should be maintained through participation in
drills. Records should be kept of each individual's
training.
Supervision
All first-aiders need supervision by competent
company approved health professional.
Level 3 health-care professionals:
nurse and paramedic
Level 3 health-care professionals are individuals
with specialized training in emergency care; they
are accredited by various professional
organizations around the world, and are usually
employed in field operations to manage medical
emergencies with remote support from a Level 4
health professional.
G
Contents and the use of Level 3 medical kit
G
Emergency response plan
G
Food hygiene
G
Administration of identified drugs and medicines
under qualified supervision.
Level 3medical kit
Content to include Level 2 first-aid kit plus the
following items that the Level 3 individual is
competent to use or certified to administer:
G
Suture set
G
Sphygmomanometer
G
Stethoscope
G
Oro-pharyngeal airway
G
Laryngeal mask
G
Pulse oximeter
G
Bag, mask and valve set (Ambu bag)
G
Oxygen, tubing, manometer
G
Foot operated suction unit with catheters
G
Laryngoscope with blades, bulbs and batteries
G
Endotracheal tubes
G
Intravenous giving sets
G
Intravenous cannulae
G
Intravenous fluids
G
Intramuscular injection needles and syringes
G
Medication as approved by the supervising
health professional (with manufacturer's
prescribing information)
G
Rehydration sachets
G
Patient identity tags
G
Injury and treatment summary charts and report
forms
G
Large torch with batteries
G
Container for contaminated needles and sharps
G
Thermometer
G
Glucometer
G
Splints
G
Nasopharyngeal airways
G
PPE
G
Spinal immobilization equipment
G
AED +/ 12 lead capability
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33
G
Nebulizer capability
G
Capnography device.
medical doctors and nurses
The primary health-care unit on site should be
staffed by registered and licensed health
professionals. These could be doctors, nurses,
physician assistants or other trained personnel with
experience in primary and emergency medical
care. They would be expected to provide advanced
emergency medical care to resuscitate a patient and
to participate in the MERP in case the patient is to
be transferred to the secondary or tertiary HCU.
Advanced life support (ALS)
G
Cardiac monitoring
G
Cardiac defibrillation
G
Transcutaneous pacing
G
Intravenous cannulation (IV)
G
Intraosseous (IO) access and intraosseous infusion
G
Surgical cricothyrotomy
G
Needle cricothyrotomy
G
Needle decompression of tension pneumothorax
G
Advanced medication administration through
parenteral and enteral routes, including
intravenous (IV), intraosseus (IO), per os (PO, by
mouth), per rectum (PR), endotracheal (ET),
sublingual (SL, under the tongue), topical and
transdermal
G
Following algorithms as set forth by AHA
26
,
advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
G
Following algorithms as set forth by Pre-Hospital
Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), Basic Trauma Life
Support (BTLS) or International Trauma Life
Support (ITLS).
Advanced trauma life support (ATLS)
G
Spinal immobilization and correct application of
emergency cervical collar
G
Use of long back board and head immobilizer
(if available)
G
Care of unconscious head injury
G
Evaluation of level of consciousness using
Glasgow Coma Scale
G
Patient log rolling techniques
G
Stop bleeding
G
Identify signs of shock
G
Immobilization of limbs in a possible fracture
G
Eye irrigation
G
Patient decontamination.
Interpretation and diagnosis of all potential
serious and life-threatening conditions
These shall include the following:
G
Cardiac chest pain
G
Difficulty in breathing
G
Anaphylaxis
G
Asthma
G
Hyperglycemia
G
Hypoglycemia
G
Altered level of consciousness
G
Head injury
G
Neurological deficits
G
Hypertension
G
Hypotension
G
Heat stroke and heat-related illness
G
Food poisoning
G
Dehydration
G
Altered mental status
G
Signs of infection (viral, bacterial and fungal)
G
Signs of infestation
G
Suicidal tendencies
G
Depression
G
Fatigue
G
Acute weight loss
G
Eye injuries/disorders
G
Sight deficiency
G
Hearing deficiency.
26
American Heart Association
medical specialists
The identified secondary and tertiary HCU should
be staffed by medical specialists. These are medical
personnel who have undertaken postgraduate
medical training and obtained further medical
qualifications, and whose competence has been
certified by a diploma granted by an appropriate
specialist medical college. They would be expected
to assess, diagnose and treat specialized and
complex medical conditions.
Knowledge and skills of secondary
HCU medical specialists
G
Management of inpatient medical and surgical
cases requiring investigation and/or treatment
G
Capable of damage limitation surgery
G
Ability to provide emergency resuscitation and
stabilization of patients prior to referral to a
tertiary HCU if necessary
G
Participation in MERP in case the patient is to be
transferred to the tertiary HCU.
Knowledge and skills of tertiary
HCU medical specialists
The tertiary HCU is able to handle critical
conditions that exceed the capacity of the local
secondary health-care facility. Such conditions
include, but are not limited to the following:
G
Major trauma
G
Neurosurgery
G
Severe burns
G
Cardiac surgery
G
High-risk pregnancy
G
Complex tropical diseases
G
Organ failure and transplant
G
Oncology
G
Major psychoses
G
Substance abuse treatment.
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Annex 4: Local medical facility audit template
Logistics
The checklist in Table 3 below summarizes the basics of what should be found in primary, secondary and
tertiary health-care units.
Table 3 Basic requirements of primary, secondary and tertiary health-care units
Administration
Secondary
health-care
unit
Basic Patient confidentiality
G G G
Health records
G G G
Control of prescription drugs including CDs
G G G
Standard operating procedures
G G G
Medevac procedures
G G G
Advanced Appointment system
G G G
Discharge agreement with company
G G
Agreed company access to monitor patient care
G G
G G G
Accessibility
G G G
Security
G G G
Communication
G G G
Supply of quality drugs and medicines
G G G
Preservation of cold chain
G G G
Programme of preventative maintenance
G G G
Telemedicine
G G G
Clinical waste disposal
G G G
Basic Competence (training, skills, experience)
G G G
Paramedic
G G G
Nurse
G G G
Doctorgeneral practitioner
G G G
Advanced General surgeon
G G
Cardiologist
G G
Obstetriciangynecologist
G G
Paediatrician
G G
Anaesthetist
G G
Dentist
G G
Tertiary
health-care
unit
Primary
health-care
unit
Health professionals
continued
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Table 3 Basic requirements of primary, secondary and tertiary health-care units (continued)
Health professionals (continued)
Secondary
health-care
unit
Advanced Pharmacist
G G
(contd.)
Health technician
G G
Ophthalmologist
G G
Surgical specialists
G
Medical specialists
G
Cleanliness
G G G
Privacy
G G G
Comfort (TV, phone)
G G
Furniture (desks, chairs, etc.)
G G G
Beds and examining tables
G G G
Lighting
G G G
Refrigeration
G G G
Heating/air conditioning
G G G
Back-up power supply
G G G
Hand washing facilities for staff
G G G
Toilets
G G G
Waste disposal
G G G
Running water
G G G
Environmental protection
G G G
Ambulance
G G G
Catering
G G
Potable water
G G G
Potable water testing
G
Laundry service
G G G
Sterilization/sterile supplies
G G G
Operating theatre
G G
Recovery room
G G
Emergency room
G G
Isolation room
G G
Mortuary
G G
Tertiary
health-care
unit
Primary
health-care
unit
Premises
37
Premises (continued)
Secondary
health-care
unit
Helicopter landing access
G G G
CD cabinet
G G G
Thermometer
G G G
Sphygmomanometer
G G G
Stethoscope
G G G
Foetal stethoscope
G G
Otoscope
G G G
Reflex hammer
G G G
Ophthalmoscope
G G G
Eye chart
G G G
Urine dip stick
G G G
Scales
G G G
Height measurement
G G G
Electrocardiogram
G G G
Spirometer
G G
Peak flow meter
G G G
Audiometer
G G
Radiology
G G
Ultrasound
G G
CT scan
G G
MRI
G G
Invasive diagnostic procedures
G G
Laboratory
G G
Glucometer
G G G
Drug and alcohol testing
G
12-lead ECG
G G G
Point-of-care testing, e.g. pregnancy,
cardiac markers, malaria
G G G
Tertiary
health-care
unit
Primary
health-care
unit
Diagnostic equipment
continued
IPIECA
OGP
38
Emergency requirements
Secondary
health-care
unit
Syringes, catheters, needles, sterile swabs
G G G
Intravenous fluids
G G G
Antitoxin
G G G
Anaphylaxis treatment
G G G
Vacuum mattress and stretcher
G G G
Suture kit
G G G
Splints
G G G
Breathing bag and mask (Ambu bag)
G G G
Oxygen
G G G
Automatic external defibrillator
G G G
Manual defibrillator
G G G
Suction
G G G
Laryngoscope
G G G
Endotracheal tubes and laryngeal mask airway (LMA)
G G G
Pulse oxymeter
G G G
Fully-equipped intensive care unit to include:
blood gases
G G
ventilator
G G
chest tube
G G
monitoring equipment
G G
safe blood supply

G G
Urinary catheterization
G G G
Thrombolysis
G G G
Rapid sequence intubation
G G
Nebulizer
G G G
Basic General medicine
G G G
Vaccination
G G G
Appropriate medication and consumables as
defined by company-designated health professional
G G G
Tertiary
health-care
unit
Primary
health-care
unit
Therapeutic requirements
39
Therapeutic requirements (continued)
Secondary
health-care
unit
Advanced General surgery
G G
Cardiology
G G
Obstetricsgynaecology
G G
Paediatrics
G G
Psychiatry
G G
Anaesthetics
G G
Ophthalmology
G G
Dentistry
G G
Appropriate surgical specialities as required
G
Appropriate medical specialities as required
G
Burns units
G
Tertiary
health-care
unit
Primary
health-care
unit
IPIECA is the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues. It develops,
shares and promotes good practices and knowledge to help the industry improve its environmental and
social performance, and is the industrys principal channel of communication with the United Nations.
Through its member-led working groups and executive leadership, IPIECA brings together the collective
expertise of oil and gas companies and associations. Its unique position within the industry enables its
members to respond effectively to key environmental and social issues.
E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.ipieca.org
OGP represents the upstream oil and gas industry before international organizations including the
International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional
Seas Conventions and other groups under the UN umbrella. At the regional level, OGP is the industry
representative to the European Commission and Parliament and the OSPAR Commission for the North
East Atlantic. Equally important is OGPs role in promulgating best practices, particularly in the areas
of health, safety, the environment and social responsibility.
London office
Brussels office
Boulevard du Souverain 165, 4th Floor, B-1160 Brussels, Belgium
OGP/IPIECA 2011 All rights reserved.

Managing Health For Field Operations in Oil and Gas Activities

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What are the main health risks addressed in the document?

What are the main health risks addressed in the document?

What are the components of an effective health management system according to the document?

What are the components of an effective health management system according to the document?

Managing health

for field operations

Hand hygienewash hands thoroughly with

Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.

Sterilization and disinfection of medical

Prevention and management of injuries from

worker placement in relation to activities; and

pre- and post-employment screening to identify

gloves for hand protection;

masks and respirators for mouth and nose

goggles for eye protection;

face shields for face, mouth, nose and eye

gowns or aprons for skin and/or clothing

the provision of emergency response and

participation in the MERP in case the patient

the management of inpatient medical and

the emergency resuscitation and stabilization

participation in the MERP in case the casualty

rebreatheable bag masks are necessary if

normally, a minimum of 3 litres of oxygen is

safe blood supply

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