The audit was conducted in October and November 2022.

Background

Previous audits of Equinor's offshore and onshore facilities have made repeated observations concerning weaknesses in Equinor's systemic working environment management, and in the practice of risk management at the facilities.

Against this background, we initiated an audit of Equinor's systems and practices for managing workplace risk at an overarching level. The objective of the audit was to assess whether Equinor's follow-up and improvement processes implemented in relation to the management of working environment risk are sufficient for achieving regulatory compliance.

Statfjord C is a late-life facility, whose organisation and follow-up within Equinor comes under the FLX operating unit.

Objective

The objective of the audit at Statfjord C was to verify that Equinor’s management of working environment risk prevents employees and temporary agency workers from being exposed to health hazards and the risk of sickness absence.

Result

The audit identified the following regulatory non-conformities:

  • Mismatch between tasks and resources
  • Breach of the working hours provisions
  • Organisation of work and risk assessment
  • Analysis of psychosocial risks
  • Measures
  • Arrangements for employee participation
  • Risk of musculoskeletal disorders
  • Compliance with own requirements
  • Training and information

We also observed the following factors that we have chosen to categorise as improvement points:

  • Follow-up of the working hours provisions
  • Noise-related health risks
  • Health risks from the chemical working environment

What happens now?

We have asked Equinor to report to us by 15 May 2023 on how the non-conformities will be addressed, and for their assessment of the improvement points observed.