Business travel is an essential and growing element of the oil and gas industry as a whole. It is associated with many hazards of a various nature and management of these hazards is often characterized by a lack of standardization. Hence, this paper describes our effort to address this issue in a global and standardized way. This process required the development of a precise definition for a frequent business traveller, development of training material, a risk based screening method and a web application tool. Furthermore, logistical and data privacy issues needed to be addressed. Ultimately, we believe we have managed to successfully meet the objectives of the program according to the 4-S scheme (Standardize, Simplify, Share, and Speed-up) for achieving business success. Technical upgrades and exploration of the database information should further enhance the value of this program in the future. Introduction Despite advances in communication technologies and increased pressure to control travel budgets, international business travel continues to grow significantly. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently released passenger and freight traffic forecasts projecting that in 2011 the air transport industry will handle 2.75 billion passengers (620 million more passengers than in 2006) which corresponds to an annual average growth rate of 5.1%. The strongest international passenger demand growth is forecast for the Middle East, Asia and Africa.1 Oil and gas exploration spans the globe and often mandates travel to remote areas, making the growth in business travel an issue of particular importance to this industry. Frequent business travel can be associated with multiple health, safety and security hazards. The health hazards may be of a biological, psychological, physical, chemical and/or ergonomic nature.2–4 Following several serious health incidents in our business traveller population in recent years, it was decided to comprehensively address the health and safety hazards faced by business travellers. The benefits of developing a standard approach for business travel is even more compelling in view of the variety of potential hazards, in comparison to other job tasks associated with one or only a few hazards. Hence, the goal was to develop a standardized tool, which also met all criteria of the so-called 4-S scheme (Standardize, Simplify, Share, and Speed-up) for achieving business success. In this paper, we will describe the design and implementation of the Frequent Business Traveller (FBT) application, rolled out globally within Shell companies in 2006 and 2007. We will include discussion of the process rollout, data privacy and security measures, and travel focal point training, as well as the resulting challenges encountered.
Malaria is a parasitic disease that affects an estimated 500 million people in the world. It kills two million people a year, more than any other disease, and is currently endemic in over 100 countries. Within the oil and gas industry, malaria is a major cause of sickness in high malaria risk countries and an significant cause of death from an occupational illness. Although the biology of, and defence mechanisms against, Malaria have been known for some time, fatalities amongst Oil & Gas personnel on assignment to Malarious areas still occur. This paper summarizes the key elements of a comprehensive strategy on Malaria Management to be released in May 2006 by the joint Health Committee of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) and the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA). If a company is considering business opportunities in malarious settings, it is critical to consider development of an appropriate MMP for all phases of the business activity. OGP and IPIECA member companies support the managements systems approach, and that management system should include a suitable malaria management program based on a full assessment of the risks and measures to address such risks In addition to their own workforces, this program may cover a variety of contractors and suppliers. Overall, an integrated approach, using primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, is likely to have the greatest chance of success. This paper outlines a basic strategy for such a management system, called a Malaria Management Program (MMP), and is a summary of good practices which form the basis for a new publication from the OGP-IPIECA Health Committee ‘Guidelines for Managing Malaria in the Oil & Gas Industry’. Understanding the Malaria lifecycle: the key to implementing an MMP Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by 4 different species of the parasite Plasmodium: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae. The parasite is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. P. falciparum has the most serious effects and can lead to death. The other three types are less severe and rarely fatal, although they can cause recurring bouts of malaria many months. and even years after the initial infected mosquito bite. MMPs are multi-disciplinary and integrated efforts that combine expertise and strategies from human and vector biology, environmental management and medical education and intervention. Because the MMP framework is built around the principles of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, which in turn control different aspects of the disease, in order to develop and implement an MMP, it is necessary to understand the biology of malaria infection so that an approach targeted at the various access points in the infection chain may be developed. Reference should be made to Figure 1. In the MMP, multiple levels of prevention can be specifically defined so that an integrated programme can be systematically developed, as follows:Primary prevention is considered to be eradication and is focused on vector control strategies. Within this level, there are three main categories which in turn rely on reducing vector density, shortening vector longevity, and blocking contact between man and the vector.Secondary prevention is based on controlling and reducing risks. Within this level, strategies include the full range of personal protection and behavior modification measures.Tertiary prevention is treatment of disease in order to prevent impairment and subsequent disability.
In this cross-sectional study using a web-based questionnaire, we evaluated the performance indicators of a comprehensive malaria management program that includes the provision of curative malaria kits (CMKs) to non-immune employees working for a major oilfield service company who are potentially exposed to falciparum malaria. In addition, the program's effect on employee knowledge level, employee satisfaction with the program, and the use of self-diagnosis and standby treatment were evaluated. Furthermore, we also evaluated the program's possible influence on adherence to malaria prophylaxis. Due to a lack of studies about the risk of malaria in long-term residents, which causes difficulties for health professionals when advising this group, we also attempted to calculate the absolute risk for this group of respondents. 2552 employees who were exposed to malaria responded. Regarding preventive measures, 70% (1127 of 2465) of respondents reported chemoprophylaxis use during the time they were considered to be at risk. The respondents receiving training and a CMK reported a higher use of malaria prophylaxis and had more knowledge of malaria. The rapid self-diagnostic malaria test was used by 35% (602 of 1703) of the respondents who received the Curative Malaria Kit. One third of all respondents visited a doctor for malaria symptoms during the last 24 months. Almost half of hospitalizations of respondents who visited a doctor because of malaria symptoms were due to malaria (according to doctors' diagnoses). This survey shows the importance of providing instructions for the rapid malaria diagnostic test and the use of curative malaria medication, and demonstrates the clear benefits of a comprehensive program for controlling the risk for malaria in this population. Introduction Every year, Plasmodium falciparum infects 300 to 500 million persons, and kills between one and two million, mostly children. Falciparum malaria is also a major occupational illness that accounts for several deaths per year and numerous lost workdays among the expatriate population, working or living in high-risk malarious areas. Approximately 1% of all non-immune travelers who acquire P. falciparum infection die [1]. Increasing awareness, the use of personal protection measures against mosquito bites, chemoprophylaxis and early diagnosis and treatment are the mainstay of prevention against falciparum malaria. The application of these preventive strategies is problematic in travelers, including business travelers, expatriates and long-term travelers, because of poor compliance [2]. In addition, deaths or near fatalities due to falciparum malaria often do not occur in the country where the disease was contracted, but in a nonmalarious country which was visited afterwards [3]. In this case, the diagnosis of malaria is not immediately considered, resulting in treatment delay and subsequent higher morbidity.
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