Petrofac and NHS to address emergency preparedness

Petrofac’s Training Services business has partnered with NHS Grampian to deliver the UK’s first training course for appointed  Hospital Liaison Representatives.

The half-day course is specifically created for oil and gas company representatives who play a vital role in the event of a colleague being injured at work and then hospitalised.

Held at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, the course is designed to fully embed all elements of the duty of care process, from the moment the employee reaches the hospital, to when they depart. It includes specialist input from emergency department clinical staff and delegates also receive a tour of the hospital.

Neil Fraser, Consultancy Service Manager, for Petrofac’s Emergency Response and Crisis Management service, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with NHS Grampian to deliver a unique offering to industry, aimed at both oil and gas operators and service companies. Regardless of the number of staff employed, all companies have a responsibility in an emergency. This course walks them through the correct processes and prepares delegates for what to expect.

“Emergency response preparedness in this area is inconsistent across the industry, so we hope our combined experience will help achieve a more standardised approach. The feedback so far has been excellent and it is our aim to make the course available in more locations in the near future.”

Alison Hardy, Head of Operations at NHS Grampian, said: “There is no doubt that providing healthcare to the offshore industry poses some unique challenges.

"Thankfully, in Grampian we are now able to call upon more than 40 years of experience in supporting patients working in the North Sea. This collaboration with Petrofac is a great opportunity to build upon that by raising awareness among companies about how, when and where to access the right support."