The Geo People
HSSE


IN BRIEF


 

  • HSSE QC consultants – both marine and land HSSE consultants are provided by TGP to represent our clients on field projects in both the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors. As our projects range in size from a few hundred to several thousand crew members, the presence of an HSSE QC is important especially when a dedicated HSSE advisor is not supplied by the contractor as is sometimes the case with marine crews on small vessels
  • HSSE audits – carried out by our HSSE consultants for renewables, land and marine seismic surveys
  • Security – in addition to following health, safety and environmental IOGP and IAGC guidelines, many of our consultants provide, in addition to HSE services, security advice and management
  • Training – during our surveys, our HSSE consultants often provide training to contractor crew, in the appropriate language
  • Legislation – occupational health and safety (OHS) for seismic exploration and production activities is subject to extensive legislation. In addition, individual operators develop OHS strategies to satisfy their own operating and regulatory requirements. Safety management systems (SMS) are a principal component of such strategies – SMS guidelines have been developed both by individual companies and by national and international bodies
  • HSSE policies – our substance abuse policy and health and safety policy are signed by all our consultants prior to deployment

 

IN DETAIL



Land HSSE QC

The Geo People provides HSSE QC and HSSE audit services for 2D, 3D and 4D land and transition zone seismic surveys. The effectiveness of the implementation of an HSSE management system on a crew is evaluated and areas of importance include:

  • supervision, training and support for contractor personnel
  • communications
  • vehicle suitability and vehicle journey management – experience and understanding
  • adherence to HSSE procedures
  • security arrangements such as police or armed personnel to be stationed in camp or were considered necessary for the crew
  • environmental management/compliance and camp clean-up

A land seismic survey requires substantial logistical support. In addition to the day-to-day seismic operation itself, there must also be support for the main camp (for example, catering, waste management and laundry), smaller camps (where the distance is too far to drive back to the main camp with vibrator trucks), vehicle and equipment maintenance, medical personnel and security.

Our consultants have the appropriate HSSE credentials, usually a NEBOSH (National Examination Board for Occupational Safety & Health) Certification, for operating at home, the office or in the field.

The Geo People ask for feedback from clients regarding the client representative’s HSSE awareness as part of its own HSE management system.


Marine HSSE QC

The Geo People provides marine HSSE QC and HSSE audit services, the latter if the operator requests an additional audit to the one usually provided by the contractor.

During the survey, the HSSE QC monitors and communicates with the contractor and the client about: HSSE attitude, HSSE issues, SIMOPS, PPE, FRCs, drills, the system for reporting unsafe acts/unsafe conditions/STOP cards, crew welfare/recreation facilities, medic qualifications and facilities, crew training on medical procedures, suitability of vessel to internally manoeuvre a stretcher, out-of-date medicines, cleanliness, emergency torches, smoke hoods, PLBs on FRCs and life jackets. Further to this, the HSSE QC keeps track of incident reports, waste management on board and checks that all necessary drills are conducted as required under maritime law.


HSSE audits

HSSE audits are carried out by our HSSE QCs if the operator requires another audit in addition to the contractor’s audit and/or a follow up audit, this being part of their management system. Contractor audits should be carried out in accordance with the IOGP guidelines 245 and should be made available to the operator on request.

After an opening meeting with the location management, lead auditor and location HSSE staff, the auditor will focus on management systems and compliance.

Typical audit activities include:

  • walking through the location, inspecting equipment and activities covered by the scope of the audit
  • reviewing documentation
  • reviewing HSSE performance statistics
  • reviewing HSSE inspection and auditing programme
  • reviewing the EIA
  • reviewing policies, procedures and required records
  • interviewing management, QC and technical staff
  • interviewing HSSE staff and area personnel
  • assessing implementation of training plans
  • documenting and categorising findings each day
  • analysing findings and preparing list of key findings and recommendations for use at final meeting

The audit then ends with a closing meeting involving the audit team, location management and location HSSE staff for review and confirmation of a schedule and distribution of the audit report. The audit report is then completed, issued to the commissioner who then distributes it to the appropriate people. The progress of the actions and status reports are normally followed up by the commissioner.


HSSE regulatory framework

Although there remains significant variation in the detailed handling of safety and environmental issues, much HSSE management is tending to converge towards the systems model of ISO 9000. Many E&P forum members operate joint health, safety and environment management systems, and the American Petroleum Institute (API) has issued recommended practices, such as RP 75, to assist those developing safety and environmental management programs (SEMP) in the offshore oil industry. There is now, a wide recognition of the benefits of objective or goal-setting approaches to safety, which is a fundamental principle of that SMS approach which draws on management principles of the International Standard on Quality Systems, ISO 9000.

An environmental management system (EMS) is a set of processes and practices that enables an organisation to reduce its environmental impact and increase its operating efficiency. It is a framework that helps a company achieve its environmental goals through consistent control of its operations. The assumption is that this increased control will improve the environmental performance of the company. The EMS itself does not dictate a level of environmental performance that must be achieved; each company's EMS is tailored to the company's business and goals. These are subject also, to extensive regulation and used to control and manage environmental impact.


HSSE used by The Geo People

To demonstrate the level of compliance with HSSE policy and its requirements and to record the extent to which planned objectives and performance criteria have been met, a clear and complete set of HSSE records is maintained by The Geo People.

Procedures for maintaining records are clearly defined and adhered to, maintaining the integrity, accessibility, and control of such records. These data include relevant contractor and procurement records, results of audits and reviews, training records, and consultants' medical records. The appropriate retention times for records is established as well as procedures regarding their availability and confidentiality.

The Geo People conducts its own internal quarterly HSSE assessment and an internal audit every two years. Our HSSE policy and procedures are also reviewed annually. A statistical log of any accidents, incidents and/or unsafe situations is maintained.

The Geo People has its own HSSE management system, compliant with IMO, UK HMSO, IAGC and IOGP regulations. Most clients already have a well-established, proprietary, HSSE policy and methodology in which case, our HSSE management systems is superceded by that of the client or contractor.

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