The International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC) is developing a database of fatalities that have occurred in world wide geophysical operations.

Risk management has to be experience-based, and hence needs a “memory function.” Risk assessments for low frequency, high potential incidents (fatalities) need to be done on the basis of collective industry experience. With the great crew-change that is occurring today, to an extent this memory is being lost.

To help address this situation, IAGC and the OGP Geophysical HSE Subcommittee are assembling a simple database of fatalities from geophysical operations that have previously occurred. We believe this important project will improve the industries’ HSE management of geophysical operations. The database would serve this purpose and furthermore:

• Provide essential training material for the new generation of professionals.
• Knowledge of what has gone wrong in the past.
• Avoid re-inventing of the wheel the hard way.

Help answer the question: “Has this happened before?”

• Provide completeness checks on hazard registers and HSE guidelines and manuals.
• Provide further statistical insight on the risk pattern and profile for Geophysical operations.
• Enable the use of the full industry experience, rather than the limited experience of a single company or individual.

More information regarding this initiative is available here.