Psychosocial Aspects of Stress, Health and Safety on North Sea Installations

In recent years, the North Sea oil and gas industry has been exposed to widespread change, including organizational restructuring, "down-sizing", and increased safety regulation. This article reviews the literature on psychosocial stress, health, and safety among offshore personnel in the...

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Published inScandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 321 - 333
Main Author Parkes, Katharine R
Format Journal Article Conference Proceeding
LanguageEnglish
Published Helsinki Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health 01.10.1998
National Institute for Working Life
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
National Institute of Occupational Health (Denmark)
National Institute of Occupational Health (Norway)
Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health
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Summary:In recent years, the North Sea oil and gas industry has been exposed to widespread change, including organizational restructuring, "down-sizing", and increased safety regulation. This article reviews the literature on psychosocial stress, health, and safety among offshore personnel in the light of these developments. Few studies directly compare onshore and offshore populations; the available data suggest that, relative to their onshore counterparts, offshore personnel experience greater anxiety, more sleep problems, and higher work load. Within the offshore population, objective factors (eg, size, age, type of installation, work patterns, and occupational differences), subjective work perceptions, individual differences (age and personality), and health behavior, all play significant roles in relation to health and safety outcomes. However, much of the research in stress and health offshore has methodological limitations and does not allow causal interpretation. The need for prospective studies of the longterm mental and physical health of offshore personnel, and for research in several specific areas, is noted.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ISSN:0355-3140
1795-990X
DOI:10.5271/sjweh.352