Quality system on board offshore structures ??

Question

I have a question regarding offshore structures , i.e. offshore platforms used for oil or gas production . Is there a quality system implemented on board these platforms. i,e. an incident database for collecting incident data on board the platform, to record quality violations, like not wearing a safety jacket for personnel or so or failing equipment on board ?

Also is this mandatory for offshore platforms, for example by Health and safety Executive HSE, and is the data then submitted to some sort of government entity , like if a fatality happens on board the platform. Also who is recording this data on board and how is the data recorded ?

Thank you

Answer 1

Yes there are many databases

The databases usually contain all the information from all the company's installations in a single database, usually on a company intranet. it is a searchable database for reporting Key performance Indicators regarding safety. In my company we used the 'STOP' database to record minor infringements such as not wearing PPE etc. This is then used to analyse where in the safety culture improvements can be made, and to know which areas of safety infringment to target for training etc.

Our company also used a database called 'Traction' which is used to record incidents (both production and safety issues) and to record any follow-up actions that need to be addressed.

Failing equipment falls under the CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management System), a powerful software package for Work generation, planning, equipment failure reporting, and anything else you can think of. On our platform these maintenenace records were regularly analysed by the HSE, as it is mandatory to keep maintenance records on certain equipment. (Ex certified equipment for use in hazardous atmospheres) If an item of equipment has failed and caused damage or injury, then there will be records in the CMMS, and the safety database.

Reporting is mandatory in the respect that incidents above a certain severity, must be reported to the HSE by law. These are known as 'reportables'. you also have high-potential incidents or 'Hi-Pos' which again are recorded and analysed. Any incident involving any injury or spill to the environment is reportable by law, same as any fall from height or confined space incident or fire etc.

You also have regular visits from you verification body - sometimes Lloyds British, or DNV. These inspectors also want to see your maintenance records, and maybe your safety databases.

There are literally databases covering every single possible event that could possibly occur onboard, from maintenance to safety, to production and well performance, turbine/compressor/pump performance, vibration and condition monitoring databases..and on and on and on.