Occupational (Industrial) Hygiene Programmes Within South American Assets

Abstract

Abstract British Petroleum Exploration (BPX) has over the past four to five years been carrying out extensive exploration work in several South American countries. Numerous health protection programmes have been set up by BPX, to not only meet the requirements of local legislation, but also BP Group's own Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) policy and to be in line with both North American and European HSE developments and demands. This paper will describe the main occupational health hazards encountered, the baseline occupational (Industrial) hygiene assessment, control and training programmes established, and the progress made in BPX's Colombian and Venezuelan assets. Occupational hygiene activities for both countries were initially undertaken by BPX Colombia's Medical Group, who then drew in safety, environmental, engineering and occupational hygiene specialists such as myself, from not only within Colombia and Venezuela, but also the BP Group at large to expand the scope and depth of the preliminary programmes. In addition, external local expertise from the National Oil Companies, Government Departments, Universities and other specialist contract and manufacturing groups have been incorporated into specific one off and/or on-going projects for both assets. For the past three years plus, BPX Venezuela has been setting up its own HSE Group, with Medical again overseeing the occupational hygiene elements. Progress has been made with the expansion of both assets own health protection ventures and the general raising of the profile of occupational hygiene nationally and within the BP Group world wide. There is still a lot of work to be done, but advances are being made in many areas and we feel a sound base for future growth in health protection fields has been laid.