Australia’s offshore regulator Nopsema has slapped Subsea7 with an improvement notice relating to its multipurpose vessel Seven Pegasus, after some workers onboard contacted Nopsema stating that fatigue is affecting their work.
Fatigue is a substantial risk to workers’ health, could result in operator error and subsequently impact the performance of the controls which reduce the risk of a major accident event to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP), noted the regulator.
A Nopsema inspector said he is satisfied on reasonable grounds that Subsea 7 Australia Contracting has contravened a provision of a listed OHS (occupational health and safety) law and is likely to contravene that provision again — and as a result — there is, or may be, a risk to the health or safety of a person on the Seven Pegasus.
He revealed members of the vessel’s workforce had reported to the offshore regulator that fatigue is affecting their work, with noise from the propulsion system that can be heard in the accommodation said to be a contributing factor.
“Nopsema’s… inspectors found that a survey of noise levels in the accommodation (cabins, mess and laundry), commissioned by the operator, are at or do not meet the recommended noise level limits in good industry practice.”
The inspectors who visited the vessel noted that noise — a physical hazard — is not adequately controlled on the Seven Pegasus and the uncontrolled noise conditions have the potential to cause a poor physical environment which can contribute to worker fatigue.
“The duty holder’s facility safety case recognises that factors such as fatigue may impair personal performance and pose a risk to safety. The safety case identifies operator error as a potential cause of major accident events,” the regulator said.
“There is a risk of serious personal injury that could lead to permanent or irreversible damage, where the workforce is exposed to uncontrolled noise and a poor physical environment which can cause and or contribute to worker fatigue.”
At the time of publishing, neither Subsea7 nor Santos had responded to a request for comment.
The Nopsema inspectors’ investigation found no evidence to indicate Subsea7 had assessed the risk associated with excessive noise levels or taken effective action to control noise to ALARP.
The inspector added that he is satisfied “on reasonable grounds that the following actions must be taken by the responsible person to reduce or prevent the risk”: Engage a specialised third party to identify and assess the noise risk for the noisiest mode of operation on the Seven Pegasus against a recognised standard; and undertake an ALARP engineering noise control assessment to determine noise control options, including interim controls to limit the source of the noise.
Subsea7 has until 9 April to complete the identification, assessment and determination of noise controls options, including interim controls; and until 8 July to implement noise controls options based on the outcome of the ALARP assessment and consultation.
Source: By Amanda Battersby from upstreamonline.com