Assessment of operational risks to personnel on board fixed offshore structures

Abstract

An overview of the causes and frequency of incidents occurring on a fixed offshore structure, handling petroleum, is presented in this paper. Results are based on an analysis of a database of incident data covering a period of 2 years. The database is compiled by the operating company of the platform, which is located about 100 km offshore from Libya. The analysis provides important information on incident modes and rates of occurrence for fixed offshore structures. Platform incident data can also be used to develop probabilities of future incidents, a key input for quantitative risk assessment. Personnel risk assessment is carried out to assess the safety of offshore workers on board the platform. Potential loss of life, fatal accident rate, and average individual risk are computed for personnel working on board the platform. These values are then compared with acceptable standard values to assess the current safety level on board the platform. Activity-based risk assessment is also carried out for six potentially risk-increasing activities. The results could be a valuable tool for improving personnel safety on board the platform and for setting up inspection and maintenance strategies for the platform.