Medical Evacuations From Oil Rigs off the Gulf Coast of the United States From 2008 to 2012

Thibodaux, Donald P.; Bourgeois, Robert M.; Loeppke, Ronald; Konicki, Doris L.; Hymel, Pamela A.; Dreger, Marianne

doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000000221

Cited by 23 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The few reports published for offshore oil and gas, and for the wind industry showed that the majority of illnesses were musculoskeletal in nature (Norman et al 1988; Ponsonby et al 2009; Thibodaux et al 2014; Jürgens and Weinrich 2015). Musculoskeletal injuries are accountable for more missed workdays than any other form of illness for all occupations and have long been shown to be related to physical fitness (Rayson 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The physical performance of workers on offshore wind energy platforms: is pre-employment fitness testing necessary and fair?

Preisser

McDonough

Harth

2018

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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PurposeWorkers on offshore wind turbine installations face a variety of physical and psychological challenges. To prevent potentially dangerous situations or incidents, guidelines for the physical aptitude testing of offshore employees in Germany and other European countries have been developed. However, these criteria have not been previously empirically tested for validity. Although an important component of occupational health and safety, such aptitude testing should not lead to the unjustified exclusion of potential employees.MethodsHeart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption () measurements of 23 male offshore employees and trainers were taken during typical field activities, within the framework of mandatory training exercises. These were evaluated in relation to the individual maximum values of the subjects, determined by cycle spiroergometry.ResultsFor the training modules, average HR and values of approximately 40% and 33–48% of the maximum values, respectively, were found. Furthermore, 65% of the participants achieved average HR values that exceeded 30% of their individual heart rate reserve and 45% had values above 35% of their individual .ConclusionOur preliminary results show that offshore work is a form of heavy physical labor, thereby justifying the criteria put forth in the various fitness to work guidelines. We propose that more in-depth investigations should be performed, incorporating task-specific fitness testing as well as higher level aspects of work safety and security, including effective communication skills and teamwork. We also recommend a re-evaluation of the current limits for physical work provided in the literature. The results of such studies could then be applied to other aptitude tests, thereby strengthening the evidence for such measures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The physical performance of workers on offshore wind energy platforms: is pre-employment fitness testing necessary and fair?

Preisser

McDonough

Harth

2018

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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“…In addition to limited resources and extended time for medical interventions, there is an added cost burden that occurs in the event of emergency services or transport. In a review of medical evacuations from oil rigs off the Gulf Coast of the United States, Thibodaux reported that the average cost of a medical evacuation was $49,250, which did not account for any medical treatment onshore, lost productivity, or replacing the employee's position (Thibodaux et al, 2014). As shown in Table 1 below, the majority (77%) of medical evacuations were for non-occupational injuries or illnesses, with more than half primarily related to cardiovascular causes.…”

Section: Industry Relevance -Us Gulf Coast Examplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to the financial implications of these incidents, health and wellness personnel also reported safety concerns related to the numerous night-time flights . Recommendations for addressing the high financial and human capital costs include proactive institution of appropriate fitness for duty, pre-placement and periodic medical evaluations, as well as preventive wellness programming (Thibodaux et al, 2014).…”

Section: Industry Relevance -Us Gulf Coast Examplementioning

confidence: 99%

Implementing a Global Workplace Wellness Strategy - Theoretical Foundations and Business Value

Davis-Street

Sanderson

Shannon

et al. 2016

Day 1 Mon, April 11, 2016

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Objectives/Scope: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a healthy workplace as Љone in which workers and managers collaborate to use a continual improvement process to protect and promote the health, safety and well-being of workers.Љ The WHO suggests that this is achieved by addressing the physical and psychological work environments, and by providing personal workplace health resources and community participation opportunities. Even with high-performing organizations touting workplace health as a best buy for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), controversy still surrounds the ability to prove the business value of workplace wellness programs. One principle in establishing the business case in support of investing workplace health efforts is quantifying the economic cost of poor health. Premature death due to NCDs results in a financial impact of $2 trillion and the loss of 18 million people still in their productive years. This paper will describe the development and implementation of Chevron's award winning, evidence-based approach to achieving healthy workplaces.Business unit examples describe cost implications of and approaches for addressing ill-health in order to demonstrate the business value of health. Methods, Procedures, Process:We describe our systematic engagement, assessment and planning process for implementing a global workplace wellness strategy. Business value of implemented programs are described in terms of health outcomes and the elements that contribute to the cost of evacuating and/or repatriating personnel from two remote business settings in the oil and gas industry -offshore, Angola and the Gulf of Mexico.Results, Observations, Conclusions: Implementation of Chevron's systematic process incorporates validated theoretical foundations. The extent that these processes are followed depends on the organization's capacity and available resources. Seeking medical care in our offshore or remote locations adds complexity, cost, and delayed time for care -all of which can have negative impacts on prognosis and outcome. Given the observation that cardiovascular-related conditions (heart attack, stroke and diabetes) are a frequent cause of premature death and disability, we provide estimations of lost time, business loss and loss of intellectual capital. Risk prevention programs that target lifestyle choices (nutrition, physical activity, smoking etc.) can reduce incidence of illness, injury and risk of death from CVD and other NCDs in employee populations.Novel/Additive Information: Prevention-focused health and wellness programs can have a long-term positive impact on workforce health. Utilizing a leader-driven systematic process can aid organizations in establishing priorities and well-executed plans that improve employee health, reduce costs and enhance safety and productivity. This paper provides direction for assessing worksite wellness capabilities and developing and evaluating an organization's global wellness strategy, while demonstrating the business value of ...

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“…The most common cause for ferry helivacs were heart-related symptoms (40%), which corresponds to a study of 397 helivacs of workers from 202 oilrigs off the United States gulf Coast in 2002-2012 (cardiovascular diseases: 26-45%) [10]. Similarly, 35% of 104 critically ill patients airlifted to a Florida hospital from cruise ships in the Caribbean in 1999-2000 had heart conditions [11].…”

Section: Thor-erik Holt Et Al Medical Emergencies On Large Passengementioning

confidence: 99%

Medical emergencies on large passenger ships without doctors: the Oslo-Kiel-Oslo ferry experience

Holt

Tveten

Dahl

2017

International Maritime Health

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Medical Evacuations From Oil Rigs off the Gulf Coast of the United States From 2008 to 2012

Abstract: Illness, not occupational injuries, is identified as the major reason for medical evacuations from oil rigs. Heart disease is the leading cause of chronic health conditions resulting in a medevac.

Cited by 23 publications

References 13 publications

The physical performance of workers on offshore wind energy platforms: is pre-employment fitness testing necessary and fair?

The physical performance of workers on offshore wind energy platforms: is pre-employment fitness testing necessary and fair?

Implementing a Global Workplace Wellness Strategy - Theoretical Foundations and Business Value

Medical emergencies on large passenger ships without doctors: the Oslo-Kiel-Oslo ferry experience

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