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Providing Offshore Workers with the Safest and Soundest Night’s Sleep

Colin Middler, Mattress Assembler at Glencraft

With the oil and gas industry facing challenging times, cost cutting measures are at the forefront of operators’ minds and spending is being scrutinised to see where savings can

be made. One area which should never be compromised, however, is giving offshore workers a safe and sound night’s sleep. Aberdeen-based Glencraft, a manufacturer and supplier of high-quality, handmade mattresses, has been providing beds to the offshore industry for many years and within the past five years alone, has supplied over 25,000 mattresses to its energy sector clients. General manager Graham McWilliam is reminding the industry why a worker’s bed is so important, and why cheaper alternatives don’t compare:

“It’s vital to remember that sleep is imperative for those working long shifts, as a person suffering from fatigue is more likely to make mistakes. When staff are engaged in both physically and mentally demanding work, at times within dangerous situations, this can lead to serious accidents.

“Furthermore, and even more importantly, operators must maintain the high standards of safety present on the operational workfloor through to the accommodation modules too.

“Ensuring furniture meets strict fire regulations is a British legal requirement for businesses, and British Standard BS7177applies directly to mattresses.

“Mattresses may be seen as a minor safety consideration, however in offshore installations, which according to current standards are regarded as highly hazardous environments, all inventory taken on board an installation must be rigorously tested. In order to comply with safety regulations, mattresses offshore should ideally be ignition resistant to a Crib 7 fire rating, as well as being cigarette and match resistant. This rating directly relates to the slower ignition and faster dying out time compared to a standard Crib 5.

“Whilst Crib 5 may be acceptable offshore, the UK oil and gas industry has established itself as a centre of excellence for HSE and to truly demonstrate a commitment to safety, a Crib 7 rating should be preferred.

“It’s unlikely that a mattress will be the source of a fire, but a non-compliant mattress can add hugely to the combustion load of a room”

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“Glencraft is a registered charity and social enterprise, and 80% of our workforce is disadvantaged, disabled or visually impaired. Understanding first-hand the importance of safety in the workplace, we have applied this ethos to our product development by producing a high quality Crib 7 mattress specifically for dangerous environments.

“Our Crib 7 mattress has been tested for all sources of ignition, including smouldering, flaming and radiant heat, and is increasingly becoming the product of choice for many industry operators and accommodation suppliers who want to demonstrate their commitment to safety.

“A guide compiled by the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) states that furniture and every component in any premises contributes to overall fire safety, and hence the level of ignition resistance of every item of furniture must be considered.

“Controlling the ignitibility (the ease with which the item can be ignited) is a key principle of fire safety. If potential sources of fire in an offshore environment can be identified and the mattress made as resistant to this as possible, the likelihood of an incident can be seriously reduced.

“This is something all companies endeavour to do, but is much harder to control in a hazardous environment. Therefore all precautions must be taken to avoid the fire significantly spreading and ensure personnel are safe.

“A report published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stated that in 2013/14 there were 115 hydrocarbon releases on UK offshore installations, a 20% increase from the previous year. This, as well as the growing amount of electrical devices being used in accommodation modules, means that ignition risks are ever growing.

“Finding a supplier who is willing to produce bespoke items for offshore use can be challenging. Sadly, in the pursuit to meet reduced budgets and in the hope of increasing their own sales, many suppliers are offering cheaper, poorer quality products. Although it’s unlikely that a mattress will be the source of a fire, a non-compliant mattress can add hugely to the combustion load of a room and will last just a couple of minutes in a fire. Non-modified foam can burn so fast, it is often unavailable for investigation post incident.

“Having a sound understanding of the energy sector and its stringent requirements, our mattresses are continually tested to ensure that nothing is left to chance therefore giving customers peace of mind that we are in compliance with all legal requirements is key for Glencraft.

“In all aspects of offshore installations, operators have an obligation to personnel to ensure every safety precaution is met. It must be the number one priority when purchasing every day products, such as mattresses. Considering the potential outcomes of not following this advice, a safe night’s sleep is one area which should never be compromised.”

Graham McWilliam, General Manager, Glencraft

“growing amount of electrical devices used in accommodation modules means that ignition risks are growing”