Rentokil Offshore Services

03 April, 2008

Protecting the livelihood of the rig

The challenge of controlling an oil rig in waters, such as the North Sea or those off Mexico, requires diligence and close collaboration with trusted suppliers. Millions of pounds are at stake if any rig becomes non-operational even for a matter of hours. Often there are penalty clauses relating to rig downtime in client contracts, if any section of the living cabin area becomes uninhabitable. For an oil company or rig provider that suffers a pest outbreak or infestation, the consequences can prove dangerous, harmful and costly. Few can afford to take the risk and neglect an area such as pest control.

Health and safety is paramount in the offshore industry. Every vessel must adhere to strict legislation – whether these are the demands of the local port authorities or Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Rigs that enter most waters must provide deratting certification to prove the vessel is pest free, otherwise access to the shores are denied.

Rentokil Pest Control Offshore Services works with clients in places such as Angola, Congo The Gulf of Mexico, Nigeria, Norway and the UK to tackle pest control issues. With over thirty years’ experience in the offshore oil and gas and marine industry, Rentokil employs the latest techniques in the control and eradication of infestations on all types of offshore installations.

Tackling infestations from the UK shores to Africa

Rentokil works with many vessels worldwide to tackle onboard infestations. One company managing a vessel in Africa faced the issue of a cockroach infestation, which had stemmed from local food deliveries of in-store products. The company quickly turned to the experts at Rentokil to assess and treat the infestation, whilst keeping the rig operational. Cockroach infestations can quickly spread throughout any vessel, and, in the worst case, create an unsafe and unpleasant working and living environment. Rentokil’s experience and expertise is incomparable in the industry, and its technicians use only the best, tried and tested methods to tackle infestations. Whilst treating the vessel, the technicians were able to work around the rig staff to ensure they could complete their job as normal. There is a large degree of reporting required on pest control matters and, once Rentokil’s work was completed, they provided the company with simple reports on pest levels, the treatments undertaken and ongoing maintenance and control. These pest reports enabled the company to demonstrate to the authorities that the vessel had met all the necessary health and safety standards – an area, which for those involved in the offshore industry, is not negotiable.

International health and safety requirements

Rentokil’s highly qualified offshore team can be mobilised to any rig within a matter of hours. Specialist training and accreditation is required for any worker who comes into contact with offshore installations. Rentokil Offshore Technicians are fully versed with health and safety requirements and conduct controlled treatments in complete compliance with the client policy and logistical requirements. Working closely alongside the Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) and safety officers, the technicians provide daily progress reports detailing the severity of the infestations and affected areas. Daily planning and reporting to rig managers reduces the risk of treatment being carried out where operational procedures are on going. Situational reviews allow the technicians to carry out treatments and minimise contact of insecticides with rig personnel. The first stage of the process requires a detailed and thorough inspection and survey of the entire vessel, to establish the level of infestation and locations of main pest activity. A schedule of work is then planned with the client, and in most cases, a minimum of two Rentokil technicians are assigned to carry out the treatment.

Rentokil Pest Control Offshore Services – One World – One Solution

The application of safe systems of work and control methods used by Rentokil to combat pest issues is not always adhered to by local suppliers of similar services. In fact, one of Rentokil’s customers recalled how a local pest controller attending their vessel in West Africa, used inappropriate insecticidal sprays and work practices which led to rig personnel suffering adverse skin reactions. Another situation was noted when a local pest controller, brought on board to control rodents, scattered rodenticide all over the rig floor making the working environment unfit for personnel. Not only does this quality of work fail to eradicate the original infestation, it completely ignores all health and safety legislation putting workers onboard the rig at risk. No company involved in the offshore industry can afford to take this risk and every aspect of servicing a rig or platform requires the highest quality and professionalism.

Notes to editors

Rentokil
Rentokil Pest Control Offshore Services works with clients across the world including those with installations in The Gulf of Mexico, Nigeria, Angola, Congo, Norway and the U.K. Its specialist offshore team eliminates pest infestations and develops prevention and management processes for infestations including (but not limited to) cockroaches, mice, rats, bedbugs, flies or fleas, irrespective of vessel or location. Rentokil’s experience is drawn from over 30 years of providing services to the offshore oil and gas and marine industry. For information about Rentokil Offshore Services, please contact 0131 334 7645.

ENDS