BackDROPS Forum - Aberdeen, 28th February 2013
Greg Reid opened the Forum and gave a Safety Brief. With many new faces around the room, introductions were duly made by all attendees.
DROPS Update - Greg Reid, DROPS
Membership : The following new members were welcomed to DROPS - Southey Contracting South Africa; DNO Oman; Azimuth (Go Home Safe) Malaysia; Petronas Carigali Malaysia; Specialist Access Solutions, UAE.
DROPS International : DROPS North America Steering Committee will convene in Houston on March 15th with a focus on reinvigorating the campaign and with a view to a formal USA Forum in summer 2013.
DROPS Asia will host a Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 8th May. Register online at www.dropsasia.com. The Asian DROPS Chapter are also planning 2013 DROPS events in China, Brunei and Singapore. Visit the Events Page for dates and details as they are announced.
Discussions are underway for several DROPS events in the Middle East and we hope to finalise and publish details by April.
DROPS Training : Since last forum, several DROPS Train-the-Trainer sessions were delivered at Silverdot’s Banchory offices and sessions will continue to be hosted regularly in UK – see website for details.
DROPS Train-the-Trainer is available in Houston May 14th (see the Training Page for details / booking).
2013 DROPS Training : Forums will be held in Aberdeen (Marcliffe Hotel) on Thursday 30th April, Thursday 12th September and Wednesday 4th December.
A Forum is presently being planned in the Netherlands in October. The Forum is likely to be in Den Helder and will coincide with SNS Pool Safety Day with date and venue to be advised.
This year’s Norwegian Forum will be held in early September and will form part of a broader scope planned and hosted by Statoil and engaging many in the NCS supply chain. Venue, date and format will be announced in due course.
The feasibility of a Great Yarmouth Forum nearer year end is being reviewed.
DROPS Focus Groups : The Reliable Securing Focus Group update is detailed later.
The Behavioural Safety Focus Group will provide an update at the April Forum in Aberdeen.
DROPS Website : While introducing FAQs section, we are taking the opportunity to overhaul the website to improve member communications and navigation (including search facilities). Improved features will also address Event Management and Registration, Subscription and Membership Management functions, Working Areas and Drop Boxes for Regional Chapters/Focus Groups and Mailing Solutions.
DROPS Backroom : Thanks to all for their feedback in response to the tugger wire query – feedback will be presented by BG Group at the next forum.
Thanks were expressed to all who replied to British Standards Institute regarding input to potential Tools at Height Standard.
Sponsorship packages are presently being agreed and these will be announced by next Forum.
DROPS Campaign Pack Updates : currently being issued in all-digital format (USBs).
We always wish to hear of and share details of new products, practices, systems, tools and techniques that can help in our fight against dropped objects.
Safety Alerts : Greg presented an update to the Swire Mini Container Recall Notice as shown at December’s Forum. The update described how all containers that had been recalled, inspected and returned to service now had identification stickers.
Several slides were shown depicting the Jurong Shipyard incident in Singapore where a jack-up rig toppled due to failure of the jack-up mechanism on one of the legs. The presentation is available for download.
A service company presented DROPS with 5 dropped objects collected in just one month! These included studbolts, a pipe clamp, a scaffold clamp and a mallet. All are destined to be exhibits at our “Rogue’s Galleries” at the Aberdeen Heliports.
All members were invited to continue to share alerts and lessons learned (send details to admin@dropsonline.org) and to donate actual dropped object examples / exhibits.
Reliable Securing Update – Greg Reid, representing Focus Group
The Focus Group gave an update on progress with the Reliable Securing booklet revision. Significant changes will include Educational Content; Focus on Risk Management; Working at Height and tabulated Reference and Standards data. The update will have a new structure which will improve navigation. An overview of the new contents structure and proposed content was described in more detail. The Focus Group continues with their review and edit process and a draft is planned for release to the broader DROPS community in Q3. The goal is for publication / issue by year-end.
Marine Updates – Steve Struthers, Gulf Offshore
Representing Gulf Offshore and the Marine Safety Forum (MSF), Steve informed the members that despite all the best practice, processes and procedures, dropped objects are still occurring at unacceptable levels in the Marine Sector – the Gulf Offshore statistics shown demonstrated a recent and continuing increase in incidents despite some positive trends in previous years. Further analysis showed that 70% of incidents are occurring offshore and 71% were due to checks failing. Steve highlighted the risks to marine personnel, particularly in the vessel / platform interface. Numerous incidents were shown and described, including sharps such as hacksaw blades (from a container checked and approved some 7 hours earlier), a container ID plate (that embedded in the vessel deck) and the all too common incidence of dropped timber. Instances of overboard discharge were discussed, where uncontrolled discharges have occurred (including barite) during vessel operations, overside work and rope access activities. Findings suggest that (a) pre-loading / back-loading checks are failing; (b) maintenance management of older cargo units is ineffective, and (c) more effort is required in communication / awareness, particularly the consequences of the foregoing acts and omissions.
Working at Height – Bill Bouzan, Ergodyne
Bill described Ergodyne’s approach to dropped object prevention while working at height and demonstrated a number of products developed / marketed by Ergodyne to help prevent and mitigate the consequences, including tool belts, bags, lanyards, gloves etc. Bill discussed the costs of dropped objects and noted cost effectiveness of prevention/mitigation. He demonstrated that Ergodyne follow the recognised DROPS Risk Management model... Identify, Eliminate; Substitute; Control. This presentation is available for download and more information can be found at www.ergodyne.com.
Safety Audit App – Philip Ebenever, Azimuth (Go Home Safe)
Philip gave a short video presentation of the latest product developed by the Go-Home Safe team. The Audit Safety App (SEA-APP) was demonstrated in a short video presentation. This illustrated how SEA-APP can help the auditing process at a variety of sites, including offshore and remote locations. The key benefits of the app are its simplicity, ease of operation and the environmental bonus of a paperless system. SEA-APP allows data entry and the upload of pictures with ease whilst on location, it allows use of handheld devices that interface with office computers, and it provides a complete paperless audit trail. For further information visit www.gohomesafe.com or email ephilip@azimuth-corporation.com.
Shockforce Drilling Jar – Mike Westwood NOV
Mike shared with us the latest evolution of NOV’s “Shockforce” Drilling Jar. The new modular design represents a step change in jar technology. The 2 modules offer over-pull and safety lock mechanisms. An explanation of the difference between a traditional safety collar and the new product was shown. An existing mandrel can be modified to include a Safety Cap, and this cap interacts with three lock segments. Results from the use of this tool show that there is an increased spring rating to ensure a closed lock on return. Some of the benefits of the new technology include elimination the need for a safety collar; reduction in manual handling and reduced likelihood of a dropped object occurring. A Technical Summary is available to download. For further information visit www.nov.com/downhole or contact Mike directly Michael.Westwood@nov.com.
2013 Focus Group Workshop – Greg Reid, DROPS
Greg facilitated the 2013 Focus Group Workshop. He confirmed that the good work of the legacy 2012 Focus Groups (Behavioural Safety and Reliable Securing) would continue through 2013.
It was also agreed that, as planned, the DORIS Focus Group of 2011 would reform to address the issues arising from the testing and trials of the DORIS system through 2012.
All participants were assigned to smaller groups and asked to consider and discuss potential DROPS focus issues for the year ahead. The objectives were that each group agree two suggested focus issues and a quick hit topic. A Focus issue was defined as an issue that could be addressed by a designated Workgroup in the timeframe of around one year. A Quick Hit was defined as an issue that could be addressed quickly, with modest resources and without the need to establish a Workgroup. The resulting suggested Focus Issues and Quick Hit topics were duly recorded as follows:
Suggested Quick Hits
The suggested Quick Hit topic were put to the assembled Forum, discussed as appropriate and a vote was undertaken where those in favour raised their hands and simple majority determined if the topic would progress.
- Update DROPS Best Practices
- Update DROPS Prompt Cards
- Explore extending DROPS awareness in MIST
- Standardise DROPS messaging across all companies
- Support BSI in feasibility of Tools at Height standard
- Check for tools / debris stickers (containers etc)
Below are Quick Hit topics that were rejected or deemed to be captured within another approved Focus Issue. The remaining Quick Hits will become 2013 DROPS objectives.
- X Raise awareness of DROPS over the side X
- X Promote DROPS Website X
- X Securing downdraft / blown objects X
Focus issues
- Subsea dropped objects
- Discharges Overboard
- Backloading
- Time to discuss DROPS - Time Out Campaign
- New build / post refit DROPS awareness
- DROPS Competency
- Asset integrity
- DROPS beyond Drilling
- DROPS consequences - Awareness Campaign
- DROPS - Map of Root Causes
- Back to Design
Regarding the suggested Focus Issues, all attendees were permitted two votes for any two suggested focus issues and the top 4 issues were as follows (most votes shown first)
- Backloading
- New Build / Post Refit DROPS Awareness
- Asset Integrity
- DROPS Competency
Volunteers will be sought to participate in Focus Groups for each of these four issues (via email canvassing of members) and the level of response will determine if the respective focus issue progresses as a DROPS objective.
Safe Bolting Update – Richard Waddington, Nordlock
Richard received multiple enquiries and feedback requests in response to his Safe Bolting presentation and demonstration at at the December forum in Aberdeen. The following presents Nordlock’s response to the most commonly raised queries:
Training can be provided and is available as an e-learning package
Worldwide representation is available for both presentation and vibration testing Approval Certificates are available to download from their website
Technical Support and Testing can all be provided
Richard’s full presentation is available for download and includes a fascinating conclusion describing the highest ever recorded dropped object!
Open Floor and Any Other Business
Greg thanked everyone for their participation and invited the attendees to offer any issues for further discussion in the open floor session.