Petroleum and natural gas industries — Arctic operations — Working environment

This document describes the working environment that can be expected when operating oil and gas facilities in Arctic environments/climate. This document provides principles and generic guidelines for the design and operation of fixed and floating oil and gas facilities both onshore and offshore.

The aim of this document is to ensure optimal health, safety, human performance and decision-making conditions for people working on oil and gas facilities in Arctic conditions.

This document applies to the design and operation of new facilities and structures, and to modification of existing facilities for operation in the Arctic environment. This also includes offshore and onshore exploration and accommodation units for such activities.

This document is divided into three main parts.

— The first part (Clause 5) describes the general principles and guidelines for risk management.

— The second part (Clause 6) describes the general working environment (working environment hazards found in many workplaces and provides some threshold limit values (TLVs) and design references that can be especially challenging in Arctic conditions.

— The third part (Clause 7 to Clause 9) addresses the climatic conditions expected in the Arctic. Clause 8 describes working environment design and technical solutions, while Clause 9 describes working environment operational requirements for prevention and management of cold-related problems.