The audit was conducted between 23 September and 1 October 2020.

Objective

The objective of the audit was to verify the companies’ compliance with the HSE regulations within the working environment and emergency preparedness domains on West Mira. During the audit, we also wanted to verify that previously identified non-conformities had been addressed in accordance with their feedback to us.

Result

The period following start-up of operations on West Mira was marked by difficulties involving capacity and competence, high workload and a number of serious incidents. In 2020, various working environment activities on West Mira were postponed due to Covid-19. This has been a contributory factor in omissions relating to the management and follow-up of working environment risk on West Mira.

Concerning the management of emergency preparedness, we have the impression that Seadrill has managed to transfer experience from other facilities. A system for training and exercises has been established, but some deficiencies were identified in the system for following up training of the emergency response organisation.

The audit identified nine non-conformities and two improvement points.

The non-conformities concerned:

  • training in the working environment for managers and decision-makers (Seadrill and Wintershall Dea)
  • training and information about health risks in the working environment for operatives
  • management of the risk of musculo-skeletal disorders
  • the psychosocial working environment
  • noise
  • overall assessment of chemical working environment risk
  • respiratory protection
  • conditions and assumptions in the Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC)
  • joint local working environment committee (FS-AMU)

The improvement points concerned:

  • workplace lighting
  • training of the emergency response organisation

Follow-up of previous non-conformities

Pursuant to the audit notice, as part of this audit, we asked Seadrill to report on how they had addressed certain previously identified non-conformities.

We found that the following non-conformity from the AoC audit of the working environment on West Mira of 5 July 2019, journal entry 2019/332, had not been addressed in accordance with Seadrill’s feedback of 5 August 2019 and 23 September 2020:

  • Non-conformity concerning follow-up of ergonomic conditions.

What happens next?

We have asked Seadrill to report on how the non-conformities will be addressed and for their assessment of the improvement points observed.

We have asked Wintershall to report on how they will address the non-conformity that concerns training in the working environment for managers and decision-makers.

Both companies have been given a reply deadline of 21 December 2020.