By the OGJ Online Staff
LONDON, Feb. 20 -- Fewer workers were involved in accidents during Statoil ASA's operations during 2001, according to company statistics.
However, two workers employed by a sub-contractor, Navion ASA, were involved in fatal accidents. Both incidents have been investigated and improvement measures were implemented, officials said.
Navion was created in September 1997 when Statoil spun off its shipping and maritime technology business into a separate operation. Staotil is the sole shareholder in Navion.
The total recorded injury frequency fell by 40% last year, from 10.1 in 2000 to 6.7. The frequency shows the number of injuries per million working hours. Sickness absence remains low at a level of 3.4%.
The serious incident frequency has gone down from 4.3 to 4.1 per million working hours, but an increase in robberies and attempted robberies at Statoil petrol stations has had a negative effect on the figures.
Stig Bergseth, senior vice president for HSE in Statoil, praised the positive relationship with the employee organizations in the safety work. The dynamic safety culture is partly a result of the work that has gone into creating the right attitude and approach to HSE matters, he said.
The number of oil discharges has gone down, but the volume has increased. Last year 246 cu m were discharged, compared with 120 cu m the year before. These incidents are being followed up. Other discharge and emission figures will be announced in March.
Statoil has carried out a number of measures to reduce emissions, added Bergseth. The group has placed an order for two supply boats that will be fuelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) instead of diesel. Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) are 85% lower from these vessels than from ships that run on diesel. This is equivalent to an annual amount of 420 tones.
One of Statoil's most important initiatives in 2001 was an extensive technical review of all land-based and offshore facilities for the purposes of safety. Plans call for the closing report and results from this survey to be ready in March. The group is planning the necessary improvement measures.