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[What do we know about chemical hazards in offshore work?]
Bente E Moen1, Kjersti Steinsvåg, Magne Bråveit
1Seksjon for arbeidsmedisin, Institutt for samfunnsmedisinske fag, Universitetet i Bergen, 5018 Bergen. bente.moen@isf.uib.no
Summary
Workers on Norwegian oil rigs face health risks from chemical exposure, including acute effects and increased cancer risk, particularly from benzene. Further research is crucial to understand these occupational hazards.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Medicine
- Toxicology
Context:
- Norway's extensive history as an oil-producing nation.
- Significant workforce presence on offshore oil platforms.
- Potential health implications of chemical substances in the work environment.
Purpose:
- To summarize the international literature on offshore chemical exposure and its effects on worker health.
- To identify key chemical substances and exposure routes on oil rigs.
- To review documented acute and chronic health outcomes.
Summary:
- Identifies crude oil, production chemicals, asbestos, and drilling chemicals as primary exposures.
- Describes various exposure scenarios during offshore maintenance work.
- Highlights acute irritative effects and chronic conditions such as skin disorders, cancer, and a potential increased risk of acute myelogenous leukemia linked to benzene.
Impact:
- Advises physicians treating oil industry workers to consider occupational health risks.
- Emphasizes the scarcity of existing data, recommending further exposure studies and research.
- Underscores the need for increased awareness of adverse health effects in the offshore oil industry.