BackDROPS FORUM - Doha, Qatar, 19th May 2011
Stewart Logan of Qatar Shell opened the Forum, gave a Safety Brief and introductions were made.
Opening Address : DROPS Global Update – Allen Smith, DROPS Global
Allen Smith of DROPS Global explained that DROPS is a member-funded organisation focused singularly on dropped object prevention and committed to the identification and sharing of best practice and key learnings around the world. The DROPS organisation now has over 100 members. Our products to date include the DROPS Calculator, DROPS Training, Inspection Procedures, Awareness posters, Newsletters, Reliable Securing booklets, and DORIS (Statistical Database). Further information on all products is available within this website. Using the menu on the left you will find most DROPS products and guidance available for free download.
Allen explained the global structure of DROPS and summarised some of the current DROPS focus areas, including Prevention of Subsea Dropped Objects, DROPS in the Marine Sector, and the update of the DROPS Training Programme.
DORIS : DROPS Statistical Register – Allen Smith, DROPS Global
Allen introduced DORIS, the statistical database DROPS members use to record, review and interrogate actual and potential dropped objects. Using the European statistics presently populating the database, Allen demonstrated various methods of interrogating, displaying and reporting the statistics, highlighting trends and spikes that can help us focus our prevention efforts. Members in the ME region were encouraged to review DORIS further and to engage in populating their own dropped object incidents into the system.
If you would like to upload your own data to DORIS and require secure member log in details, please email doris@dropsonline.org for a unique user ID and password. You should note that only one full user access ID can be registered per member company per region.
Incident Presentations – Stewart Logan, Qatar Shell
Stewart shared a couple of incidents, their investigation findings and subsequent recommendations. In the first incident, a control line sheave was left suspended after an eyebolt-retaining nut backed off. The result was the sheave (22kg) dropping 4m to the rig floor. All red zone / no go zone controls were in place. The sheave was certified and had passed onshore inspection but a potential to drop was not identified. Initial recommendations are to ensure QA / QC inspections comply with DROPS best practice and to review the maintenance of contractor equipment used at height.
The second incident happened during a tree actuator strip down. Whilst backing out the spring retainer plate, the piston down-stop backed off. Initial investigations indicated that the piston down-stop Allen screws were not engaged properly. Key findings and recommendations are to physically verify that the Allen screws are fully screwed in, and to continuously monitor for piston down-stop movement. Nobody was injured in the incident. However, this was in part due to a control measure that no personnel be positioned in front of the actuator due to the potential risk of an uncontrolled spring tension release. Follow this link to download the presentation.
Shared Best Practice : Practical Steps to Eliminate Dropped Objects in your Workplace – Lee Hogan, Seadrill
Lee’s presentation highlighted that Dropped Objects remain one of the most significant safety challenges to our industry. The message highlighted that one critical ingredient to the success of DROPS is the continued support and commitment of everyone. Areas covered under Lee’s presentation included examples of Secondary Retention, the DROPS Campaign pack tools, Picture Books and Inspections. A discussion around new build rigs and equipment evolved.
A further challenge noted in the presentation and subsequent dialogue was that there is still an unacceptable level of tolerance. All agreed that we want to work together with other industry members and encourage their participation in DROPS. If we share our learnings and work together, hopefully we can achieve a successful DROPS Middle East chapter. Follow this link to download the presentation.
DROPS Best Practice : Tools at Height – Richie Adams, Egyptian Drilling Company.
Following a short animated Tools at Height DVD product, Richie described the work undertaken by one of the European DROPS Focus Groups developing guidance on safe use of tools and equipment at height. This work recently culminated in the publication of the “DROPS Recommended Guidelines for the Safe Use of Tools & Equipment at Height”.
Richie’s presentation provided an overview of key parts of the guidance, describing the different tool kits and systems of storage that exist. Richie offered some guidance based on his own experiences with controlling tools at height on rigs and highlighted instances where rigs had failed to adequately control the storage and use of the tools at height. He emphasized the importance of keeping procedures and controls as simple as possible. If we complicate procedures, the men on the rigs will most likely not even look at them. Richie also highlighted that DROPS does not endorse any tools or tool manufacturers. DROPS will only offer guidance and best industry practice. Follow this link to download the presentation.
Follow this link to download the DROPS Recommended Guidelines for the Safe Use of Tools & Equipment at Height. It is recognized that, for many, full implementation of the guidance may be challenging. The guidelines present a level of best practice that we should all aspire to, and the closer we can get to full compliance, the safer we will be in managing and using tools and equipment at height.
Open Session : DROPS Middle East - The Way Ahead
In this open workshop session, all attendees were invited to break into small groups and brainstorm ideas for developing DROPS in the Middle East. The workshop generated a broad and diverse range of topics and suggestions that could be considered and addressed as the DROPS Middle East Chapter moves forward.
The suggestions included the following:
Raise Awareness. Raise awareness of the dropped object issue across all operations and the supply chain in the Middle East region.
Combine Existing Experience, Knowledge and Best Practice. Middle East Steering Committee and Forum could gather existing materials, consider gap analysis and look at quick hit campaigning with materials ready to hand.
Regional Operator Companies need to take the lead. Get together, discuss and agree key issues and objectives regarding dropped object prevention. Identify the full supply chain for the region.
Steering Committee. Consider regional model, but first step is confirm new steering committee formed from those who have offered support.
Translations. Find suitable publications resource to translate existing materials available through DROPS. Also review content to ensure appropriate cultural aspects are considered.
Training and Induction. Develop minimum standard induction materials and also consider formal training applications for the region. Ideally a product or programme that can provide consistent messages and approach across supply chain.
Best in Class Award. Consider recognition award for best dropped object prevention performance by rig/operation.
Reporting Culture and Incident Data Gathering. Discuss and identify challenges in gathering dropped object incident data in the region. Consider value of DORIS (online system available through DROPS). Work with DROPS Global to input data and summarise/analyse content. Use data to understand and analyse the issue in more detail, focusing DROPS campaigning / Forum agenda.
Guidelines / Best Practices. Make use of existing materials (ie cargo handling, pretask checks etc) to support improvements in supply chain.
FORUMS. Invite workforce to attend or hold workforce Forums.
General DROPS Steering Committee Points:
- Raise Awareness at regional level with all Operators, associations and governmental bodies
- Consistency is key – work towards dropped object prevention standard for region
- Consider audit/monitoring processes
- Review contract / tendering processes to identify opportunities to introduce dropped object prevention best practices in selection criteria.
At a personal and individual company level, there is much that can now be done to move DROPS forward in the region: Ensure you organisation is a DROPS member (Contact admin@dropsonline.org) Consider joining the Regional Steering Committee* Participate in Focus Groups Review and implement DROPS Best Practice Share and Learn Support, attend and engage in DROPS Forums *Steering Committee members should be recognised DROPS Members.
Allen Smith of DROPS Global explained how the DROPS model works, with a regional Steering Committee overseeing regional DROPS Forums and Focus Groups. At present, an Interim Steering Committee (ISC) is temporarily administering the early development of the DROPS ME Chapter. Several attendees volunteered to join the Steering Committee and others can still volunteer to join (contact admin@dropsonline.org).
An early follow-up to this forum will be the establishment of the formal Middle East DROPS Steering Committee. It has also been recommended that the first ME Focus Group could address the translation of DROPS guidance and posters into Arabic.
Close & Thanks – Qatar Shell
Stewart Logan and Olav Skar closed the meeting with thanks to everyone for attending.
For more details on these minutes, and on future DROPS Middle East events and matters arising, please contact DROPS Administration.
Around 80 delegates representing over 40 companies operating in the Arabian Gulf region attended the Qatar DROPS Forum.