OSEP-leder orienterer under øvelse i Bergen. (Foto: Pål Erland)
Text: Line Njaa Viste
It is Pål Erland, Emergency Response Manager and responsible for the Operators’ Centre for Evacuees and Next of Kin (OSEP) in OFFB, who has spearheaded the annual gatherings and exercises in Brønnøysund, Bergen and Stavanger.
OSEP-exercise in Bergen (Photo: Pål Erland)
Participants from Aker BP, OKEA, Harbour Energy, Securitas, Thon Hotel, the Centre for Crisis Psychology (KfK), the Red Cross, municipal crisis teams and the police took part.
The exercises were based on a simulated offshore incident, focusing on reception, registration and handling of evacuees. Role players—among them local Red Cross volunteers—participated to act as evacuees.
“Excellent cooperation was shown between all parties, resulting in valuable learning for everyone. Training together in ‘peacetime’ means we are all better prepared for the day a real crisis occurs,” says Erland.
First meeting during OSEP-exercise in Brønnøysund.
More about the OSEP service:
• The Operators’ Centre for Evacuees and Next of Kin (OSEP) is a place for individuals involved in an incident who have not suffered physical injuries. Here, they receive support and help, such as reunification with relatives, counselling services and care.
• OSEP also serves as a physical meeting point and support centre for next of kin who need information, help, care and counselling.
• OFFB has established OSEP in several locations along the Norwegian coast: Stavanger, Bergen, Florø, Kristiansund, Brønnøysund and Hammerfest. Each OSEP conducts exercises twice a year.
• If an incident occurs where personnel need to be transported to shore, the partner hotels will be prepared, rooms made available and necessary resources called in. Qualified personnel such as police, clergy, healthcare workers, operator representatives and other specialists will be present to take care of those affected.
STERKT FAGMILJØ: - Mange har i sine prosedyrer at de ringer oss, samme hvor de er i verden. Da vet selskapene at de får norsk standard helsehjelp. Vår erfaring er at de som bruker oss en gang, bruker oss igjen. Noe av styrken til Radio Medico er at vi er vant til å sette oss inn i veldig ulik kompetanse og å løse evakueringsmulighetene der det trengs – når det trengs, sier Jon Magnus Haga, her med kollega Cesilie Tveit. Foto: Line Njaa Viste
Text: Line Njaa Viste
On September 2, 2024, Radio Medico officially became the on-duty doctor service provider for OFFB members, including responsibility for on-duty services within the petroleum industry on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The service—an integrated part of the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine, under Helse Vest RHF—brings extensive experience to the role.
In 2023, they assisted 2,053 patients at sea. About 200 of them were evacuated to land.
"90 percent of the inquiries we receive can be resolved on board with the right measures. When evacuation is necessary, it is always coordinated through the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre," says Jon Magnus Haga, PhD, specialist in public health medicine and head of the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen.
Backing from Haukeland University Hospital
The Radio Medico on-duty team consists of seven qualified doctors working in rotation. Many of them have experience working at sea, and the team is composed to cover a range of medical disciplines. All on-duty doctors have undergone extensive training tailored to their roles.
“We’ve built a team that can deliver consistent quality in medical advice, while also contributing to the development of the field. It’s a great advantage that several have backgrounds from the Navy and maritime work," Haga emphasizes.
Radio Medico With roots dating back to 1923 and the early days of the telegraph, the maritime industry is well acquainted with Radio Medico, Norway’s telemedical emergency doctor service for seafarers.
The service is available 24/7, all year round, and free of charge for all seafarers, regardless of ship flag, nationality, or where in the world they are located.
Radio Medico is now an integrated part of the services offered by the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine, which is under Helse Vest RHF (the Western Norway Regional Health Authority).
In addition to the on-duty doctor, the entire Haukeland University Hospital is available for consultation when needed.
"We’re fortunate to be able to consult seamlessly. The Radio Medico on-duty doctors handle the shifts, but we have Haukeland specialists backing us," says Haga.
Photo from OFFB and Radio Medicos competence gathering in June.
Radio Medico’s on-duty doctors are available 24/7 to anyone who needs them. Calls come through Coastal Radio North or South.
Coastal Radio North or South assist in identifying the vessel and setting up the communication with the doctor.
Comprehensive Integration Program
Radio Medico has exstensive experience in training maritime and offshore doctors. To further understand the oil and gas industry and how OFFB's second-line emergency response operates, all the on-duty doctors participated in exercises hosted by OFFB last autumn.
There have also been professional development days involving Radio Medico, Coastal Radio North, and Coastal Radio South. A visit to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre was also part of the program for all the on-duty doctors.
Best Possible Onboard Healthcare
Jon Magnus Haga emphasizes the ability to consult with relevant expert environments in a seamless manner and underlines Radio Medico’s commitment to continuing to build a strong professional team.
"Through our work, we can foster specialization within public health medicine," says Haga.
Pictured, back row from left: Kristoffer Enge (on-duty doctor), OFFB Chief of Staff Kim Sviland, and Radio Medico Section Head/Chief Physician Jon Magnus Haga.
Front row from left: OFFB Head of Planning and Emergency Response Ann Christin Auestad, OFFB Managing Director Ole Jacob Haug, on-duty doctor Leni Johannesen, Clinic Director Alf Henrik Andreassen, and on-duty doctor Marit Grønning.
– A Meaningful Mission
Ingeborg Ribe has been part of the Radio Medico on-duty team since November last year. She is a general practitioner and splits her time between the Norwegian Centre for Maritime and Diving Medicine and one day a week at a general practice clinic in Bergen.
Ribe says stepping into the on-duty role has gone smoothly. She received thorough training. and participated in a full-day exercise organized by OFFB for Harbour Energy in June.
"Radio Medico is a very rewarding part of my job. I find it meaningful and interesting to be in contact with nurses on offshore installations and to be involved in treating patients offshore. I get to combine my expertise in general and emergency medicine, and it’s worked very well to coordinate with helicopters and get patients to land. I’ve had many positive experiences as part of the on-duty team and look forward to continuing my shifts," says Ribe.
Quality as a Top Priority
For many years, OFFB operated a decentralized on-duty doctor system with local presence along the coast.
In recent years, however, telemedicine, new technology, and increased healthcare competence offshore have enabled smarter and more efficient solutions.
In practice, it is no longer relevant to dispatch doctors from heliports on short notice.
Instead, offshore workers are cared for directly by offshore nurses, in dialogue with on-duty doctors onshore—and flown directly to hospital by helicopter when needed.
The centralized on-duty doctor system with Radio Medico is thoroughly developed and complies with the guidelines in "Offshore Norge 014 – Recommended guidelines for medical professional preparedness for actitivites on the Norwegian Continental Shelf" (updated in 2021). It is also medically grounded in accordance with the Norwegian Activities Regulation.
A More Robust Service
OFFB’s Managing Director, Ole Jacob Haug, underlines that the goal of the change was to offer a more robust service, where focused work on continuous improvement within a strong professional environment raises the quality for operators on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
"But we also gave something up. Centralization means we no longer have doctors available to show up at heliports in the evenings to escort people to the emergency clinic for less urgent issues. However, personnel sent to shore will still experience good follow-up through our OSEP system," says Haug.
A Future-Oriented Service
"We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Radio Medico and Helse Vest RHF (the Western Norway Regional Health Authority) in delivering this vital service to our members and everyone working offshore. Through this agreement, everyone gains access to a robust, modern, and medically sound on-duty doctor system that safeguards life and health in an excellent way," Haug adds.
Student Johannes Skjæveland Eide sammen med stabsleder og veileder i OFFB, Kim Sviland.
Text and photo: Line Viste
Johannes Skjæveland Eide is a paramedic and is now studying for a Master’s degree in Risk Analysis with a focus on risk governance at the University of Stavanger. During a visit to OFFB arranged by his student association, he spoke with Head of Planning and Emergency Response, Ann Christin Auestad, and Chief of Staff, Kim Sviland, about the possibility of gaining practical experience in emergency response work.
That opportunity came this autumn through the course “Practical Training in Risk Analysis.” The goal is to connect academic studies with the professional job market.
“To truly understand the core of applied risk, it’s a clear advantage to get experience from a company. This is a unique opportunity to see how risk assessments are actually carried out in practice,” says Johannes Skjæveland Eide.
Close to Valuable Expertise
The student has now been working with us full-time for five weeks and has used the time to get familiar with how an emergency response organization is structured and operates. He has gained insight into how cooperation agreements, training, exercises, and operational response are set up and is already involved in planning an exercise with a strong focus on injury to personel. In the exercise planning, he draws on both theoretical knowledge and experience from his previous education and work as a paramedic.
“Having worked on the tactical level as a paramedic, it’s interesting to now be working more on the operational level while being close to experts in these fields. At OFFB, I really get to use both the ‘nerdy’ analytical side and the hands-on operational side of crisis management,” he says.
The master's student has had varied workdays, where he has contributed to, among other things, the planning of exercises
At OFFB, several staff members have education and long experience in risk-related work, but apply it in different ways within their specific areas of expertise. Eide highlights this as one of the most exciting and educational aspects of being at OFFB.
“Here, you have people with expertise in everything from healthcare to well control, ICT, and strategic crisis communication with media handling. It’s really exciting to see how risk is assessed and managed at the frontlines,” says Eide.
"Why Do You Think Emergency Response Is Important in 2025?"
“I don’t really think the specific year matters. Emergency response is a fundamental value. It’s often said that the first sign of civilization is the healed remains of a broken bone. At its core, emergency response is about safety and trust between people,” the student reflects.
A Relationship of Mutual Dependence
At the University of Stavanger (UiS), they are also pleased with the collaboration.
“Risk and safety as a field at UiS is in many ways closely tied to practice. The master’s programs in Risk and Societal Safety at UiS provide a solid foundation for participating in, shaping, and developing future society from a sustainable, climate-friendly, and safety-conscious perspective,” says Professor Bjørn Ivar Kruke from the Faculty of Science and Technology.
He emphasizes that the relevance of risk and safety education at UiS depends on close contact with the field of practice. Therefore, opportunities for both students and academic staff to engage in professional discussions and exchanges with actors working in risk, safety, and response are crucial for academic development.
“At the same time, a lot of learning also happens in the field of practice, where academia can contribute with new perspectives. In that way, there is a mutual dependency between academia and the field. When theory and practice go ‘hand in hand,’ they complement each other in a meaningful way. Opportunities for this type of exchange arise when practitioners open their doors to students writing bachelor’s and master’s theses, as well as for internships in relevant safety and response organizations,” says Kruke.
That’s something OFFB’s Head of Planning and Emergency response, Ann Christin Auestad, wholeheartedly agrees with.
“It’s important for us at OFFB to stay connected to the academic community and not just focus on the operational side. It’s healthy for us as an organization to be observed with fresh eyes and to be challenged. I also think it’s valuable for students to get an inside look at all the different activities that goes on in an emergency response organization,” says Auestad, adding that it’s especially positive when students are proactive and dare to contribute ideas—something Eide has already shown he’s willing to do.
A six-week break from the internship at OFFB is now approaching. During this time, Johannes will be heading to Svalbard to attend the course “Emergency Response and Response in the Arctic” at UNIS – The University Centre in Svalbard.
“I think the stay in Svalbard will be both exciting and educational. Overall, I believe this semester will be extremely valuable for me. Industry experience is incredibly valuable, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have my internship at OFFB,” says Johannes Skjæveland Eide.
Visitors to OFFB often ask about the names of our meeting rooms; Anita, Siri, Randi, and Eva. And yes, they are named after people.
"It had to be that way. They really deserve the credit for OFFB’s existence," says OFFB’s managing director, Ole Jacob Haug.
15 Years on duty It’s been 15 years since the first OFFB on-duty team was placed on emergency standby for the drilling of the Fogelberg exploration well using the West Alpha rig in the North Sea. The company was called Centrica at the time. Together with Revus (which became Wintershall during the process) and Det Norske, they were the first full-fledged OFFB member companies.
Utseth, Nesbø, Morvik, and Fagernes know the story of how the Norwegian Operators’ Emergency Preparedness Association (OFFB) came to be well. They helped create it. It all began back in 2007.
Part of the backdrop was the exploration tax refund scheme introduced by the Norwegian government in the early 2000s. This led to a significant increase in exploration activity and the emergence of many small companies—commonly referred to as "oil mosquitoes"—on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Anita Utseth realized that a more professional emergency preparedness organization was necessary when the small company she worked for, Pertra, experienced a production riser failure on the Varg field—in the middle of the Christmas party season.
"That’s when we understood that we weren’t well equipped for emergency response, and that a semi-professional second line just wasn’t enough. It was also a poor solution that the management teams received phone calls in the middle of a wine bottle on Friday nights," says Utseth.
At that time, Morvik worked at Revus—one of the "oil mosquitoes" that also saw the value in collaborating on a shared preparedness organization.
"It was my boss at the time, Ellen Braune, who gave me the assignment to find out if this was feasible. I knew very little about emergency preparedness back then. Luckily, I found great collaborators at OLF (now Offshore Norway). They asked us to conduct a feasibility study. That’s when the ball started rolling," Morvik recalls.
Siri Nesbø was HSE Manager at Centrica at the time and also became central to OFFB’s early development.
"The start-up was demanding, and I never dreamed it would become the success it has," says Nesbø.
Randi Morvik, Siri Nesbø, Eva Fagernes and Anita Utseth have left a clear mark on OFFB.
Thinking Big OLF (now called Offshore Norge), and especially Ove Haugen, was an important supporter. Once the project group received the green light that a joint emergency response center was realistic, the hunt began for companies willing to commit as members. Several companies showed interest, but finding those with concrete drilling plans and long-term commitment was a major task.
"The working title was National Emergency Response Center, so we were thinking big. Randi, Siri, and I fought our way into executive meetings to sell the message. During that time, we talked to each other constantly. I’ve never felt more like a salesperson than I did then," says Utseth.
Even without a large operating company that could ensure stable activity, they managed to establish a financing model.
"That was a milestone that showed we could succeed with our project," they say.
"We were all actively involved in shaping the organization, and I believe I participated in every single job interview for the original 15 hires, Utseth says.
The first employee was Ole Jacob Haug, who has been the general manager since the beginning and has played a key role in building the organization and developing it into what it is today.
“Getting the right people on board was crucial. Everyone who joined from the start took a bit of a risk. Three dry wells—and that could have been the end of it, even though we firmly believed the project had long-term potential," Utseth continues.
The risk paid off—for both operators and employees.
Since its inception, OFFB has provided emergency response services for more than 200 exploration and production wells—as well as for numerous production platforms, subsea installations, pipelines, and onshore facilities, across around 40 different operator companies.
Built on Volunteer Spirit At its founding, OFFB had three regular member companies and four associate members. OFFB was established as a non-profit and moved into the top floor at Koppholen 19 in Forus. Randi Morvik (Revus/Wintershall), Siri Nesbø (Centrica), and Anita Utseth (Det norske) formed the original board.
Later, Eva Fagernes (Gaz de France) and Arild Thorsrud (Rocksource) joined the board. Bridge Energy, Discover Petroleum, EON, and OMV were associate members.
General Manager Ole Jacob Haug (center) together with Randi Morvik (left), Eva Fagernes, Anita Utseth and Siri Nesbø in OFFB's situation room, which is an important part of our premises at Forus.
Eva Fagernes had also been involved early in the project through her position as HSE Manager at Gaz de France and returned when the company was preparing to start operations at Gjøa. She believes OFFB is a great example of the strength of the Norwegian model — where companies cooperate when it makes sense, for the common good.
"The project to create a shared emergency response center was rooted in volunteer spirit, with a strong focus on professionalism. The idea was that people who work with this continuously become truly skilled—and that’s key to building resilience. It also enhances competitiveness. I still think a shared emergency response center is a fantastic idea," says Fagernes.
Comeback as Chief of Staff Morvik served nine years on OFFB’s board and at times acted as chairperson. The OFFB project was the start of a new career direction in emergency preparedness for her. For several years, she led crisis and emergency work at what was then Wintershall and Wintershall Dea. The company is now called Harbour Energy and remains a key OFFB member.
Shortly after accepting an early retirement package, Morvik realized she wasn’t done with work—or emergency response. She reached out, humbly, to OFFB’s managing director Ole Jacob Haug to ask if there were any opportunities to contribute.
"Pretty quickly, I got a part-time job as Chief of Staff. I love it. I look forward to work and feel energized being here with so many skilled and kind people," says Morvik.
Just as We Envisioned – and Even Better All four of the “meeting room women” believe OFFB has truly lived up to its purpose and original intention—a unique collaboration across companies.
They particularly highlight the creation of the Competence Center with tailored courses for members, professional forums as well as the strong member networks and active sharing of experience.
Managing Director Ole Jacob Haug received a wonderful visit from the four people behind the original idea for the workplace he has built.
Utseth, Fagernes, Nesbø, and Morvik are happy to have witnessed the oil companies taking emergency response and preparedness more seriously—both operationally and strategically.
"They’ve understood how important this is, and OFFB gives the companies the emergency confidence we hoped it would. We think it’s both fun and impressive to see what kind of workplace OFFB has become. Credibility and engagement—from authorities, universities, and the energy sector in general—show that OFFB is a significant player. We’re simply proud of what this has become."
"It’s kind of fun that we’ve left our mark here," the four say, as they inspect their respective meeting rooms.
When working with emergency response, you must be willing to consider that the unthinkable could happen. That is why we at OFFB train and rehearse a variety of scenarios together with our member companies more than 130 times a year. All our member operators work according to the principle that consideration for people comes first. Noone knows exactly how we will react in a crisis, whether we are directly affected by it or are among those who must look after others.
But being prepared helps.
Longstanding Cooperation
Krisereaksjoner var en del av tema da OFFB nylig inviterte Klinikk for krisepsykologi (KFK) til samlinger med staben og ledere og operatører i vårt pårørende telefonsvarsenter. OFFB har samarbeidet med spesialistene i KFK i en årrekke og tjenestene deres er en viktig del av beredskapen.
Ved en hendelse kan vi kalle på KFK-psykologenes kompetanse, og de vil bistå enten via telefon, video eller ved fysisk oppmøte. KFK skal hjelpe til med at både rammede mennesker og innsatspersonell blir ivaretatt.
Facts:
Clinic for Crisis Psychology has been working on clinical management and research on crises, grief, and trauma situations for several decades. The center was founded by Atle Dyregrov and Jakob Inge Kristoffersen in 1988. KFK is located in Bergen but has agreements with companies across the country.
With more than 30 years of operation, Klinikk for krisepsykologi has been involved in many serious events requiring acute preparedness and psychosocial follow-up. These include the helicopter crash at Gullfaks C (1988), the Estonia disaster (1994), the Sleipner disaster (1999), the Åsta accident (2000), the Nokas robbery (2004), the July 22 attacks (2011), the terror attack in Algeria (2013), the helicopter crash at Turøy (2016), and the helicopter crash off Sotra (2024).
Psychologist Marianne Vinjevoll has extensive experience working with relational trauma, life-threatening events, and various grief reactions. In addition to her clinical work, Marianne is responsible for emergency preparedness and response at KFK. Another area of expertise is caring for relatives and colleagues after acute traumatic events.
"How a person reacts in an acute crisis can vary greatly, but common to most is that they need information, care, and help to calm down their activation," said Vinjevoll when she visited us at OFFB.
Difficult but Meaningful
Vinjevoll shared valuable experiences and knowledge for both those of us working in full-time emergency response at OFFB and those we involve in the event of an incident.
The five on call leaders and 35 trained operators who can be called to our next of kin call centre are among the first to be in direct contact with relatives at the beginning of an incident. At that point, professional support is crucial. The meeting with KFK formed this semester's mandatory training.
Vinjevoll has extensive experience in treating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and has worked with groups of emergency responders, aid workers, and individuals. She emphasized how important it is for those involved to feel supported both immediately and over time after an incident. Support can take various forms, from informal to more formal approaches such as defusing and psychological debriefing.
"It is important that the individual's experience is acknowledged. Even though people may have been involved in the same event, different roles, previous experiences, and feelings of coping will influence how each person is affected going forward," she said.
She concluded by thanking the next of kin call centre operators for their dedication.
"You have agreed to a demanding job, but you should know that being there for people in crisis will also be experienced as important and rewarding," said Marianne Vinjevoll.
By Ole Jacob Haug, general manager of OFFB (Operators' association for emergency response)
The Norwegian Maritime Industry Authority and the authorities have high ambitions and demand that Norway continue to be a world leader in health, safety and environment - also within the new industries that are now to be developed.
Until the turn of the millennium, activity on the NCS was dominated by a few large oil companies with considerable experience and significant resources.
However, low oil prices and low exploration activity led to a low willingness to invest in the industry and the authorities felt compelled to take a number of measures to increase activity, including a new scheme for prequalification of companies, an allocation scheme for licenses in mature areas through APA and the introduction of the so-called exploration reimbursement scheme.
The result was a steady stream of new oil companies on the NCS.
Shares costs, resources and expertise The requirements for emergency response are the same for small and large operators; everyone must be able to implement measures to deal with situations of hazard and accident and coordinate rescue operations.
The authorities have high ambitions and demand that Norway continue to be a world leader in health, safety and environment - also within the new industries that are now to be developed. (Illustration: Shutterstock)
However, creating large and resource-intensive emergency response organizations to take care of a few and short-term search operations did not seem appropriate for the small and medium-sized players. The companies also wanted to ensure robust preparedness.
In 2009, a number of the companies therefore decided to cooperate on emergency resoponse in OFFB (Operators' association for emergency response). The core is a cost-effective sharing model based on collaboration, quality, continuity and professionalism.
Since then, OFFB has grown in step with the operators and looked after more than 180 exploration operations and a number of offshore installations, underwater installations, production wells, gas pipelines and onshore facilities distributed among 40 different operators. Today, the emergency center at Forus is run by A/S Norske Shell, Aker BP, DNO, Gassco, OKEA, Sval Energi, Wellesley Petroleum and Wintershall Dea.
Every year, our emergency response teams and crisis management experts mobilize to deal with small and large emergency situations, while at the same time we further develop plans, carry out more than 100 exercises a year, train new personnel and work closely with the cooperative actors.
Petroleum AND new maritime industry The association OFFB can today offer members a unique collection of expertise and experience in handling incidents in Norwegian oil and gas operations. When we in OFFB mobilize, it is as an integral part of the members' organizations. We are robust enough to stand the test of time and we are a predictable partner for all our cooperative actors - both private and public.
We want to share and further develop this knowledge with the new maritime industries.
Because the Norwegian continental shelf is changing. We will continue to extract oil and gas. At the same time, world-class emergency preparedness must ensure safe and cost-effective operations within the new maritime industries that are on the way - such as renewable energy production at sea, transport and storage of CO2 and extraction of seabed minerals.
"OFFB has no owners who demand returns and dividends. Therefore, we can use all our resources to develop and deliver high-quality emergency services."
Therefore, we can use all our resources to develop and deliver high-quality emergency services. In this way, we ensure the greatest possible and best possible preparedness for every penny.
Common challenge, common solution We believe that knowledge and competence have greater value the more people who have access to it and can help develop it.
The new maritime industries face many of the same challenges that the small and medium-sized oil and gas companies did in 2009. The OFFB solution has served both the operators and the Norwegian continental shelf well for 15 years.
We now welcome the new industries into the collaboration.
There should be no competition for safety and preparedness. In this field we must all be the best.
2023 var et år med god treningsaktivitet både internt i OFFB og for våre medlemmer.
2023 was a busy year for OFFB. The number of operations the organisation supports has remained steady and high since 2020. There has also been a high activity level for training and exercises, including at the OFFB Competence Centre.
The largest single activity by far was Exercise Draugen in March 2023. A total of 800 people took part in one of the largest oil spill response exercises in Norway ever, organised by OKEA, NOFO and OFFB with support from OFFB's other members and a number of additional organisations.with support from OFFB's other members and a number of additional organisations.
2023 also offered changes, both among OFFB's members and internally within the organisation. The year started off with 22 people previously hired as coordinators in the 2nd line, becoming part-time employees
Getting more part-time employees means training and refreshing of knowledge, but we find that a closer connection strengthens on-duty-teams. (Photo: Jan Inge Haga)
“It has been quite demanding to us as an organisation, requiring training and refresher training, but the end result is positive. We observe that people get to know the company differently, and feel a greater sense of belonging when they are employed,” says Ole Jacob Haug.
More new employees
Two of our employees, who had been with OFFB from the beginning, retired in 2023. In addition, a third long-term employee chose to move on to emergency tasks in another organisation.
A lot of experience and history disappeared with them. At the same time, we have brought in new and talented staff members, who build on the work that has been put in earlier, and help us move forward. We also have strengthened our strategic crisis communication team, based on the volume of deliveries and demand among members.
Aker BP a new member
The number of members of OFFB is stable, but continuously developing. In January 2023, , Aker BP joined as a member.Throughout the year, we have gotten to know the organisation well, by planning and carrying out exercises, and through media training provided by OFFB’s strategic crisis communication team (SKT).
“Having a highly competent organisation like Aker BP as a member has been an entirely positive experience. We’ve become familiar with highly skilled people, and had the chance to test out new ways of exercising. We feel that this has been instructive for both parties,” says Haug.
ICS training in practice
Another field we are learning to master is the Incident Command System (ICS). Companies operating on the Norwegian continental shelf entered into a mutual agreement last year, to use ICS during long-term incidents. The agreement states that the operators undertake to provide training and education, and to share trained personnel at incidents that require an ICS organisation.
Exercise Draugen was conducted as a collaborative exercise between NOFO, OKEA, and OFFB, with the common goal of practicing coordination and communication within and between preparedness levels for handling a long-lasting incident. (Photo: Alf Inge Molde)
OFFB has built up an in-house ICS expertise of high quality, and we rig ourselves in order to be able to support our members’ ICS organisations. All permanent employees have undertaken the courses required. In addition, several of our part-time employees participated in last year’s Exercise Draugen, and received exceptionally good practical training. The entire oil recovery operation was handled in accordance with the ICS management system.
“Exercise Draugen provided valuable learning about a long-term incident, and how to handle such incidents in the future,” says Haug.
Together with Aker BP, OFFB now contributes to the planning of the next major exercise. This will be another opportunity for our members to practice ICS.
Looking towards new industries
Like everyone else in the energy industry, OFFB follows the green transition with great interest. We have set up a special project group which, among other things, closely follows the work on preparing regulations for emergency preparedness within the offshore wind industry.
“We are pleased to be asked to contribute to emergency preparedness and response for new industries in the planning. We possess a broad expertise and a long experience in putting preparedness at the top of the agenda, and we see that this can be transferred from the oil and gas industry to new industries. We clearly believe that OFFB has a role to play here,” says Haug, and adds:
“We have a positive view of the future. The Petroleum Safety Authority changing its name to Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority, and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate is a sign of the times, and we at OFFB are observing these changes with interest. New industries are coming in that need emergency response services, and we are prepared to deliver on that,” says Haug.
“We are putting behind us a busy and prolific year, and we are now preparing for emergency response to become a top priority for even more actors within the energy industry,” says managing director Ole Jacob Haug.
In the past year, we have also tried out several new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve the efficiency of our training and exercise activities. CIM - the crisis management system used by our members - will have a tailor-made ICS module added to it.
Memberships increasing - but there is room for more
In recent years, we have seen more acquisitions and mergers taking place among companies operating on the NCS. Several of our members have become bigger and stronger. 2023 was no exception. Neptune Energy was acquired by the Norwegian operator Vår Energi, and the news about Wintershall Dea's Norwegian arm being acquired by the British company Harbour Energy came at the very end of the year.
“This implies both opportunities and challenges, but we at OFFB keep up and deliver what our members need to maintain a robust emergency preparedness and response system. During 2024, our membership base will actually increase, as new companies are coming in,” says Haug, and emphasises that OFFB has room for more members - both small and large.
The most essential feature is having a volume of members high enough to provide learning, and a composition of members that provides variety.
“It is important to us that we get to exercise and learn together with as many people as possible, and that we have incidents that we can learn from. We see that we have an important role to play in contributing to emergency preparedness. We also see that OFFB has helped set a standard for emergency preparedness and response, and we will continue with that in 2024, says Ole Jacob Haug.
About OFFB:
The Operator’s Association for Emergency Response, known as OFFB, is a member-led emergency response organisation run by NCS operators A/S Norske Shell, DNO, Gassco, Neptune Energy Norge, OKEA, Sval Energi, Wellesley Petroleum, Wintershall Dea og Aker BP.
Since its beginning in 2009, OFFB has provided professional 2nd line emergency response services and support to our member companies’ strategic emergency response management, and forms an integral part of their emergency response systems. OFFB also acts as a resource and expertise centre to all its members.
Samtlige kursdeltagere måtte ut på gulvet for praktisk trening. Her instruerer Kim Sviland daglig leder Ole Jacob Haug.
“If you find yourself in a situation that requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the most crucial thing is to do something, as every second counts. However, you have a clear advantage if you have received some training in advance. Getting familiar with how a defibrillator works is also a definite advantage,” says Kim Åke Sviland.
In addition to being a chief of staff at OFFB, he has several years of experience as a nurse, as well as a long history with voluntary search and rescue services. Kim reminds us of the importance of those standing near to immediately initiate life-saving first aid. That way, we can together strengthen the chance of surviving acute illness and injury.
A significant investment
Precisely because emergency preparedness is our main focus at OFFB, we must practice what we preach. All full-time employees have now completed a three-hour course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation with the use of a defibrillator.
The DHLR-course consists of theory and practical training. All attendees were trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
“It was important for us to prioritise this; both to be better prepared for incidents at the companies we are on duty to provide emergency services to, and to support the government's strategy of enabling the population to better help themselves and others in cases of acute illness and injury,” says Ole Jacob Haug, managing director of OFFB.
During the course, we practiced emergency call notification, examination of an ill or injured person, securing open airways and stable recovery position, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), the use of a defibrillator, what to do if a foreign object is lodged in a person’s airways, and how to detect signs of acute heart disease.
All course participants had to get on the floor and do practical exercises. And now we are all familiar with the defibrillator in our office building here at Koppholen.
It is recommended to refresh DHLR courses at least every two years. The course is offered by organisations such as the Red Cross.
An explosion occurred during the pouring of nitrogen from bottles to hydraulic accumulators on the Heimdal field, and two people were seriously injured. The Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) concluded in its investigation report that "with insignificant changes in circumstances, the incident had the potential for a fatal accident".
Several mitigating measures have since been implemented by Equinor, and the entire industry has learned from the incident. This spring, when Neptune Energy was training its six emergency preparedness teams together with OFFB, the Heimdal incident was chosen as the case scenario – and the Gjøa facility as the training object.
Preferred practice method
Using a real-life event gives a more serious backdrop to the exercise, and enhances meaning and learning outcomes. Several participants have since stated that they prefer this manner of training.
“Those of us involved in exercise planning at OFFB, are eager to form a good cooperation with the people we train with. It is important for us to be able to distinguish between what works and what can be done better. The exercises should feel useful to everyone involved. It's especially rewarding when we hit the mark with both the scenario and the execution,” says Pål Erland, emergency response manager and responsible exercise leader at OFFB.
Erland has been involved in the planning and execution of exercises at OFFB since 2010. Before that, he had a long career in the police.
Planning provided valuable information and learning
To create the most realistic scenario possible, documentation from Equinor and the Petroleum Safety Authority's (PSA) investigation report from the Heimdal incident were used in planning the exercise. In addition, the exercise management received valuable information from Equinor's 2nd line emergency response manager, who handled the incident in 2019. To maximize the learning outcome, the exercise was based on a "worst case" scenario.
All teams trained on the same scenario
By basing all exercises on the same scenario, all on-call duty teams in Neptune Energy's 2nd and 3rd line were given a common foundation for handling the incident. Real-life mobilization was carried out in the 2nd and 3rd line. In addition, all first notifications from the 2nd line were transmitted to all relevant collaborators. These included the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (South), the local police, PSA, contractors, on-duty doctor, emergency doctor, head of the Operator's Centre for Evacuees and Next of kin (OSEP), as well as head of the next of kin call centre and the Clinic for Crisis Psychology.
Neptune Energy's on-duty personnel at the logistics base in Florø also took part in all executions. In addition, the operator's emergency doctor provided valuable support to the 2nd line’s handling of the exercise.
“It was essential for all teams to handle the same scenario and practice on the same incident. It was also important to involve as many real-life actors as possible. We received valuable contributions, including from the platform manager on Gjøa,” says Erland.
The seminar at OFFB following the exercises was an important part of the learning process. Foto: Alf Inge Molde
After the exercises, Neptune Energy held a learning and evaluation seminar at OFFB, to which all participants were invited. Here, the emergency response manager from Equinor's 2nd line, Geir Helge Johnsen, shared Equinor's and his own personal experiences from the Heimdal incident.
“Learning outcomes are important to OFFB and those we train with. The evaluation process is therefore central. After the Neptune exercises, the evaluation seminar together with Equinor was helpful and instructive. Johnsen’s presentation was greatly appreciated, both by the participants and the exercise management,” says Erland.
