The audit was conducted between 30 January and 7 February 2019.

Background

Through our audits in recent years, we have observed changes in the framework conditions of both operators and contractors. By framework conditions, we mean the factors that affect the practical opportunities available to an organisation, organisational unit, group or individual to keep major accident risk and working environment risk under control. Examples of major changes in framework conditions are changes in contract management and contract regimes, changes in manning models and changes in maintenance.

The emphasis was on the following main topics:

  • Equinor's management of working environment factors for its own employees and contractors.
  • Equinor’s and contractors’ practice in respect of working environment surveys, both by area and by exposure.
  • How the company categorises and follows up findings pursuant to surveys and incidents.
  • Lessons learned from incidents that are relevant for the audit, on the facility and potentially also other facilities.
  • How Equinor, in collaboration with its contractors, ensures that framework conditions defined in contracts do not have negative HSE consequences.
  • Follow-up of contract workers.
  • Arrangements for genuine employee participation in and follow-up of cases put before the working environment committee (AMU).

Objective

The objective of the audit was to verify that Equinor’s management of the working environment for its own employees and contractors does not expose the personnel to the risk of harm to their health.

Result

The audit identified four regulatory non-conformities and one improvement point.

The non-conformities comprise:

  • Work exceeding agreed working hours and exceeding normal working hours
  • Manning and competence
  • Inadequate decision-support – materials handling of scaffolding
  • Chemicals-related health risk

The improvement point concerns noise.

What happens now?

We have asked Equinor to report on how the non-conformities will be addressed. We have also asked for their assessment of the improvement point we observed. The deadline for feedback is set at 15 August 2019.

Sleipner Øst

Sleipner Øst is a field in the central part of the North Sea. The water depth is 82 metres. Sleipner Øst was discovered in 1981, and the plan for development and operation (PDO) was approved in 1986. The field has been developed with Sleipner A, an integrated processing, drilling and accommodation facility with a concrete base structure. The development includes the Sleipner R riser facility, which connects Sleipner A to the pipelines for gas transport, and the Sleipner FL flare stack. Production started in 1993.

Source: norskpetroleum.no