Medical evacuations from offshore structures.

Abstract

A retrospective study was carried out on medical evacuations from the installations of four major oil or gas producing companies, or both, operating offshore on the United Kingdom continental shelf. The study covered 1976-84 during which 2162 evacuations were recorded. Of these, 137 (7-7%) required the use of a chartered helicopter. In the earlier years of the study there were substantially more injuries sustained than episodes of illness recorded but from 1980 onwards the cases of illness equalled those of injury. Using the International Classification of Diseases, the digestive system was responsible for most evacuations for illness and of those, about half (115 evacuations) were for dental problems. Suspected fractures were responsible for about one third of those evacuated for an injury but injuries of hands and eye conditions were particularly common, accounting for 25% of all evacuations. As the age of the evacuee increased the proportion of evacuations for injury decreased and that for illness increased. The mean age for evacuation for injury was 28-3 years and for illness 34-4 years. Few evacuations were required for those aged over 45.

Psychosocial aspects of stress, health and safety on North Sea installations

“…An analysis of 790 medical evacuations due to illness (based on 1976-1984 data from the UK sector) showed that the most frequent cause was disorders of the digestive system (about half of which were dental problems) (30%), followed by musculoskeletal (20%), respiratory (15%), nervous system (12%), mental, including stressrelated problems (5%), and cardiovascular (5%) problems; the remaining 13% was accounted for by a range of other disorders (81). Among the evacuations due to injuries, fractures, sprains, and strains were the most common causes, accounting for 43% of the total.…”

Medical Evacuations From Oil Rigs off the Gulf Coast of the United States From 2008 to 2012

“…During that time period, 2162 evacuations were conducted. 6 Prior to 1980, the majority of the evacuations were for injuries on the rigs. From 1980 onward, illnesses accounted for approximately 50% of the evacuations with digestive system illnesses accounting for most of these cases.…”

“…From 1980 onward, illnesses accounted for approximately 50% of the evacuations with digestive system illnesses accounting for most of these cases. 6 Of the injuries identified from 1980 through 1984, fractures accounted for 33% of evacuations and injuries to the hands and eyes were responsible for an additional 25%. The study noted that as the age of the evacuee increased, the proportion of evacuations for injury decreased, and those for illness increased.…”

Fitness to work: a comparison of European guidelines in the offshore wind industry

“…The present research effort (which included a thorough online search) was only able to find four published articles on the incidence of accidents and illnesses in offshore-platform working environments. Moreover, only one of these [9] dealt with the wind-energy sector, while the remainder were focused on the offshore oil and gas industry [10][11][12]. The single study dealing with wind energy platforms indicates that the majority of illnesses associated with the offshore industry affect the musculoskeletal system (19%), followed by gastrointestinal disorders (15%), and respiratory and nervous systems (both 13%); 60% of health-problem incidents were due to injury [9].…”