There are many tasks in the oil and gas industry in which the individual's health may pose a risk on the individual's and others’ safety. In addition, some tasks may negatively impact the health of individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Fitness to Work (FTW) assures that individuals are able to complete tasks safely without unacceptable risk to themselves, their employing company or a third party. This is done through the objective assessment of health of employees in relation to their specific jobs. There is currently no standardized approach for FTW in the oil and gas industry, resulting in a wide variety of practices among operators. The proposed risk-based FTW design process includes 5 key steps: Health risk assessment, Control options, Legal assessment, Implementation, and Review. Each step is discussed with best practice examples, lessons from real-world implementation, and common pitfalls. Outcomes and consequences of FTW assessments are also discussed. Based on 6 years of global implementation, this approach represents an effective model of systematic identification, assessment and management of the risks associated with tasks that place specific physical or psychological demands on employees.

Keywords:
knowledge management, contingency planning, artificial intelligence, health & medicine, medical assessment, trade test, evaluation, functional capacity evaluation, work process, work control
Subjects:
HSSE & Social Responsibility Management, Health, Professionalism, Training, and Education, Information Management and Systems, Contingency planning and emergency response, Communities of practice, Knowledge management
Copyright 2012, SPE/APPEA International Conference on Health, Safety, and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production
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