Overview
An international organisation specialising in the manufacturing, selling, installing, and servicing wind turbines sought a comprehensive medical solution to bolster its onsite first aid capabilities and provide an end-to-end approach to workforce health needs, both on and off its remote sites offshore. It required efficient, cost-effective services that upheld local regulatory standards and were medically appropriate for various locations across multiple independent sites in various countries. The remoteness of wind farm locations posed significant challenges to the teams of technicians working there, necessitating a robust medical support system.
Problem
The organisation faced several challenges. The remoteness of its offshore wind farm sites made immediate medical support difficult. Another significant challenge was ensuring that health solutions met local regulatory standards across multiple countries. Additionally, balancing the need for comprehensive medical support with budget constraints was crucial. Lastly, addressing the diverse health needs of a workforce spread across various remote sites located in several countries added to the complexity.
Solution
Our team of subject matter experts, in collaboration with the organisation’s Health, Safety, and Environment management team, developed a tailored solution.
Proactive health advisory services were pivotal to ensuring site technicians were prepared to manage health incidents, promote responsible health practices, and enhance corporate reputation. Remote medical support provided by healthcare professionals at International SOS Response Centres to the organisation’s on-site first aiders helped assess the criticality and severity of medical incidents and manage cases effectively.
A Medical Transportation Plan was an integral part of the solution designed for each site to ensure structured handling of patient movement off-site. It outlined the healthcare pathway and ensured the chosen location was tailored to the site’s operational environment.
Capability enhancements included audits, curated drills, procedure development, and training to ensure site first aiders adhered to best practices, reducing workplace injuries and illnesses, and promoting a safe work environment.
Preparation and training for first aiders were emphasised, ensuring they were well-equipped to handle medical emergencies. This included the development of specialised first-aider responder bags, tailored to the specific needs and risks associated with offshore wind farm operations.
Another key element of the health advisory support was a dedicated International SOS Health Partner to review Patient Case Forms, advise on treatment appropriateness, and identify trends.
You perfectly tailored and optimized all processes to our needs.
Senior Purchaser, Maintenance & Services
Impact
The effectiveness of this offshore wind farm health solution was quickly recognised by the organisation, highlighting the newly found efficiencies in existing processes and procedures, enhancements of the offshore emergency response system, and support for the site technicians and management.
It led to the site technicians being better prepared to handle health incidents, resulting in improved safety and reduced downtime on- and off-site. It ensured adherence to local regulatory standards, mitigating legal risks. The integrated approach provided a cost-effective solution without compromising overall service quality and support to the offshore staff. The proactive health advisory and capability enhancements contributed to long-term sustainability and improved governance and case management.