A recommended fitness standard for the oil and gas industry

G. Milligan, Jim R. House, M. J. Tipton, B. Hildenbrand, M. Maeso

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Fitness standards are becoming common practice in industry and the emergency services. Such standards are used by the Fire and Rescue services, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Military amongst others. These standards include measures of strength, endurance, anthropometrics, flexibility, motor skills and cardiac and metabolic fitness. 

The main benefit to introducing a fitness standard into the workplace is to ensure that an employee is physically capable of completing the essential tasks of the job to at least the minimum acceptable standard, thus the risk of employing physically unfit individuals in physically demanding jobs is minimised, and the associated human and economic effects (e.g. through injury) are reduced. Furthermore, standards ensure selection is based solely on ability to complete the essential tasks and is therefore fair and unbiased. The Energy Institute (El) is the professional body for the energy industry, delivering good practice and professionalism across the sector. On behalf of the El's Health Technical Committee (HTC) work was undertaken by the University of Portsmouth (Department of Sport and Exercise Science) to provide an introduction to fitness standards and to make recommendations for a minimum fitness standard for the Oil and Gas Industry (OGI). 

The findings of this work are presented in the El's 2010 publication 'A recommended fitness standard for the oil and gas industry'. Minimum standards have been evaluated based on the essential tasks with a significant physical fitness component e.g. manual handling, casualty handling and ladder/stair climbing. The evidence-base for the standards is contained within the report, as is guidance on administering the tests. The report does not provide guidance on policy issues or implementation strategies as this is considered to be a matter for individual companies.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSociety of Petroleum Engineers - SPE European HSE Conference and Exhibition 2013
Subtitle of host publicationHealth, Safety, Environment and Social Responsibility in the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industry
PublisherSociety of Petroleum Engineers
Pages148-152
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)9781627482844
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Apr 2013
EventSPE European HSE Conference and Exhibition 2013: Health, Safety, Environment and Social Responsibility in the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industry - London, United Kingdom
Duration: 16 Apr 201318 Apr 2013

Publication series

NameSociety of Petroleum Engineers - SPE European HSE Conference and Exhibition 2013: Health, Safety, Environment and Social Responsibility in the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industry

Conference

ConferenceSPE European HSE Conference and Exhibition 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityLondon
Period16/04/1318/04/13

Keywords

  • fitness standard
  • guidance
  • upstream oil and gas
  • Reilly
  • OGI
  • strength
  • direct task measurement
  • aerobic standard
  • Portsmouth
  • essential task

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