Optimal workplace design, access and transportation, good working positions and flexible tasks are of vital importance in our effort to reduce the frequency and severity of musculoskeletal problems.

Our ergonomists play an important role in workplace design. Particular attention is paid to the design of control rooms, driller's cabins, crane cabins and operational support rooms used in integrated operations. These workplaces are typically manned 24/7 and pose particular challenges with regard to physical ergonomics. In addition, cognitive ergonomics (e.g. mental workload and human reliability) must be addressed as the work performances of operators staffing these workplaces are of vital importance to safe and efficient operations.

Specialists on health and the working environment are also engaged in supporting management in promoting healthy work practices in our day-to-day operations. Access, lifting, material handling and the usability of tools and equipment are some of the areas in which ergonomists help to improve working conditions at our facilities. "Stay Healthy (Skjerm helsen)" is an initiative to ensure that office workplaces and furniture are designed in an ergonomic way, and an opportunity for employees to book a personal consultation with an ergonomist.

"Ergorisk" is a risk assessment tool for ergonomic factors in manual work tasks, and our preferred tool for the identification of ergonomically undesirable work practices. An Ergorisk training programme is under development that will educate offshore nurses and HSE coordinators in the use of the tool. The programme will be launched in the first quarter of 2009. It will substantially increase the number of work tasks that can be analysed using Ergorisk.