| Description | Tape 1 Side A: GARY PATON born 16 November 1962 Banff. Works on Britannia gas platform. Describes shift routine offshore. Employed by AMEC Offshore Services. Describes routine going offshore, pre-flight travel preparations. Feelings about leaving home. Wife's situation. Details re 3 children. Comments on advantages of job pattern compared with that of other fathers. Close family. Routine at heliport, swipe card for identity checks etc. Mentions training courses that may have to be taken. Explains strict security checks. Drugs used to be a problem offshore. Consequences of getting caught. Details re checks. Issue of survival suit, briefing on helicopter evacuation. Details re flight on Tiger, Puma helicopters. Feelings about flying in helicopters. Explains terms 'rig', 'platform'. Procedures on arrival at platform, fire precautions, check-in with admin. Explains swipe card systems, 'T 'cards, emergency and safety briefing, safety constituencies. Role of Safety Officer. Explains emergency station procedures. New personnel briefed about platform, muster points. Explains procedure in case of gas escape, missing persons. Details re emergency alarm signals. Describes cabin arrangements, chances to meet people. Few black people work offshore in North Sea. Shift times offshore. Background to 12-12 shifts. Details re meals offshore, evening activities. No handover procedures in construction area. Explains. Britannia still having parts constructed, upgraded. Gives example. Explains role of Britannia, links with other platforms, processes carried out on board with oil condensate, its primary role as gas producer. Details re its life expectancy, extended life of many installations.
Tape 1 Side B: Describes Britannia platform, placement of accommodation, drilling, production sections. Compares with earlier platforms. Explains explosive potential, use of nuclear material for radioactivity testing. Details re dangerous chemicals. Comments on escape possibilities in emergency. Emergency process for releasing explosives into the sea. Describes daily routine starting with breakfast. Mentions lack of windows on many platforms. Details re accommodation. Not conscious of weather except for motion in heavy seas. Describes working clothing, preliminary requirements before issue of permits, jobs to be done, safety controls. Explains process of pulling cables, precautions to prevent sparks. Importance of gas detector. Recalls being on rig where big spark caused ball of flame, potential for massive explosion. Company downplayed incident. Risk, still today, to anyone who goes to the papers, of being sacked. Details re changes, incentives on platform where incident took place. Company got a scare. Still a pressure not to make fuss. Role of HSE (Health & Safety Executive). Reports of incidents not publicised. NRB (Not Required Back) situation still exists. Power hierarchy on platform starts with OIM (Offshore Installation Manager). Describes their approach. Most have open door. Does not belong to union. Unions not recognised by offshore companies. Few union members on Britannia. Comments on OILC (Offshore Industry Liaison Committee). Belonged briefly to AAPTU. Details. Oil companies' attitude to OILC, and to unions generally. Compares UK situation with Norwegian sector. Daily routine (cont'd). Starts day with discussion re job, arrangement of work permit. Details re tea break in 'dirt' area, food supplied, dinner break, other breaks e.g. in winter weather. TV in rooms - good thing and bad thing. Explains.
Tape 2 Side A: Comments on benefits, drawbacks of TV offshore. Explains own evening activity - away from cabin, with other people. Details re Sedco accommodation barge alongside platform. Afternoon work routine, breaks. Mentions making worksite safe at end of day, signing off procedure. Reference to overtime. Meals good. Details. Mentions noise on platform, compensated by extra good food. Describes noises offshore. OIM's work routine. Contrast between conditions for company people and others. Attitude of long-stayers on platforms to newcomers. Encouragement now to bring new ideas to platform, e.g. re safety. Small number of women on Britannia, barge. Details re their work. Mentions optimum numbers of POB (persons on board). Most women in catering, administration etc. Comments on demands on catering staff, cooking, cleaning. They are lowest paid. Feelings about this. Describes North Sea in winter. No limit to tea breaks taken. Describes barge being hit by huge wave. Sometimes necessary to batten down hatches, wait till weather improves. Worst experience at time of gas explosion on rig. Reaction of crew, attitude of OIM. Not involved in politics. Mentions loss of jobs after new Government oil tax. Rigs up north reducing crew numbers, could cause problems. Own attitude to big business. Explains own support for SNP (Scottish National Party). Opinion re oil being British, not Scottish. Describes feelings being offshore now and before. Recalls difficulty getting phone calls, situation now. Details re platform shutdown alarms, routines, minor accidents that occur. Oil rigs higher risk areas than platforms. Reason for working offshore is time off. Sometimes difficult to adjust to being home. Explains. Wife's role in home, reaction of children.
Tape 2 Side B: Blank |