Improving the Quality of the Medical Emergency Response (MER) in Global Exploration and Production Operations

Abstract

Abstract Shell has a comprehensive health and safety management system for it's global operations, and has a policy of no harm to people. However there are still a number of work and non-work related deaths in Shell's Exploration and Production (EP) operations. In the Hazards and Effects Management Process (HEMP), Medical Emergency Response (MER) is the recovery measure for ill and injured workers. To improve medical aid and to optimize this recovery measure it was decided to assess the existing system, and develop and implement an improved MER standard for Shell EP operations. The pre-existing Shell standard followed the industry standard for tiered response. However it was recognized that this standard had little specific requirements in terms of competence or requirements for medical equipment. A new standard was developed to address this, and included prescriptive minima for the numbers of first aiders, and trained medical staff, and laid down specific requirements for competence and levels of equipment. It was also recognized that in some cases there were delays caused by workers not being aware of how to mobilize medical help. To address this there was a requirement for all staff working in EP operations (Shell staff and contractors) to be trained in first response so they would know who to contact, and what they should and should not do. A Gap analysis process was carried out in early 2007, and the implementation of the new MER Standard was begun in Q3 2007 and is ongoing. Some of the gaps that were identified were levels of training and competency, medical equipment and health infrastructure, medical organization (including reporting) and medical emergency response planning. It was also identified that there was also a need to carry out more frequent MER drills.