BACK DECK OPERATIONS — THE ROLE OF TRAINING

30th June 2016

The oil and gas industry is facing challenging times and as a result companies are under more and more pressure to consider cost effective options. It is so important that health and safety is not jeopardised in this process and it is of utmost importance to any company that its offshore team is properly trained and familiar in operating winches and back-deck equipment. Having qualified and skilled crew working the equipment is essential from both an HSEQ standpoint and production efficiency.

Understanding the HSEQ requirements, legislation, codes of practice that govern winch operations, onshore and offshore is of significant importance and must not to be under-estimated in the role that it plays in oil, gas and maritime operations.

It is essential for a project that the crew operating back-deck equipment is experienced, fully trained, and up-to-date with the latest hydraulics and electrical systems being deployed. From understanding the basic principles of winch hydraulic systems and electrical and mechanical prime movers to a more in-depth and technical understanding. Unqualified or inexperienced operators could potentially have an impact on the vessels/platform operating costs. Minimising the risks on deck is critical for any company operating offshore and onshore in an already dangerous industry.

The crew need to comply with the correct and safe practical applications within the environment they are working in and to the latest regulations e.g. safe working loads, safe operating practices. It is also key that the team have an awareness and knowledge of both individual and the team’s capabilities and limitations so that they can apply the correct techniques that are relative to the working environment. Injuries can be reduced, and lost working time minimised if the crew are fully conversed in understanding the impact that their personal contribution can have in the winching operation.

Risks are not just specific to the equipment but also to the environment, that could take the form of adverse sea conditions, for example a sudden big downward movement of the vessel could impact on safe working of the equipment and as a result ‘Stop Work Policy’ could be evoked if unsafe conditions arose.

Taking time to assess the situation might help avoid injury, therefore it’s important that the team are trained on how to use the equipment, maintain and/or resolve operational issues encountered and to properly review the risks so that they are fully aware of situation and associated risks. Understanding the construction, composition and operational theory of winch operations and winch ancillary equipment is fundamental to the team’s understanding, and beneficial in helping to spot potential issues which could result in operational downtime.

Back-deck equipment will include a range of products, each with its own specific specifications and requirements, which could include winches, reel drive systems, spooling, and traction tensioners. Training can provide the crew with practical experience in the setting up and operating a range of winches and ancillary equipment.

Training needs to evolve to meet new demands from the industry, be that new innovative equipment or new regulations or codes of practices entering the sector. As such, it is important that a training programme for back-deck operators is ongoing, so that they:-

Keep up-to-date with industry changes
In touch with all the latest technology developments
Receive regular training to enhance their technical knowledge and expertise
Ensure a safe working practice is followed at all times

Training needs to be tailored and delivered around technical skills and competencies that will ensure safe deployment, management and operation of winches and back-deck equipment. Training can be delivered using a combination of training methods and mediums. For more complicated projects requiring a complex back-deck solution, the equipment can be set up to match the actual operational environment in a safer onshore location, whereby the back-deck equipment is set up to mirror how it would be deployed on the vessel/platform. Training can then be deployed to familiarise the crew with the exact equipment that they will be using in-situ.

Designing a Winch Competence Programme around the company’s specific requirements will result in the client being able to clearly demonstrate to its customers the technical and operational abilities of its staff to deliver safe and efficient winch operations, and by modelling the programme on an existing system such as the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Competence Assurance and Assessment schemes, which is an internationally recognised organisation within the industry can help as further endorsement.

Access to an external supplier to design and facilitate a company’s training programme would be able to assist in the development of competence scheme that is designed specifically for that company to a specific sector and encompassing a range of disciplines. An external training company would be able to add independence to the process, provide structured assessment and verification of staff portfolios, or simply a supporting role to your existing company competence scheme.