H E A LT H , S A F E T Y, E N V I R O N M E N T & T R A I N I N G
“Often, what the doctors do is taken
for granted, but I hope that people
can really learn to appreciate us.
Whether you’re onshore or offshore,
take a moment to tell your doctor
they’re doing a great job, and thank
them for helping you.”
- Dr Fabian Vicente Castañeda Romero,
emergency doctor and physician
onboard Seadrill’s West Titania jackup
Dr Ruth Zamora Georgee takes care of rig crew members
onboard Seadrill’s West Intrepid jackup.
rapid situational assessment so that a patient can be quickly sent
to shore for proper treatment and care if needed. Dr Castañeda
refers to this as being a “first-contact practice,” where simple
concerns can be addressed quickly but complicated issues
requiring specialized equipment or a team of professionals are
sent to shore.
“We have defibrillators, oxygen tanks, pain medication and a
hospital bed,” he said. “But we can’t do X-rays or lab tests, and we
can’t do surgery. If we have a patient with a broken bone, we try
to stabilize them and control the damage until we can get them
back to shore.”
The nature of this process makes offshore health profession-
als very clinically apt, able to deal with issues efficiently and
with high standards of care so that permanent damage is not
sustained. The challenge, then, is workload and availability. With
most rigs having only one medic onboard, managing multiple
injuries or illnesses at once can become a test of endurance. Dr
Castañeda said that on his vessel, many crew members also use
him as a pseudo-psychologist, visiting simply to talk about prob-
lems and explore thoughts on the state of the world.
“For many of the crew members, they know that you’re a pro-
fessional, and because you’ve been working and living with them
on the rig, there’s a sort of bond,” he said. “This has been going
on for years, but after COVID-19, it’s been happening a lot more.
We’ve seen a higher incidence, for example, of anxiety attacks
and stress-related health issues. It’s been difficult for two years,
and some people are struggling to keep it together.”
24 Dr Castañeda confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic has
dramatically increased the workload of offshore medics, with
frontline workers taking on the added burden of managing
pandemic-related processes and procedures. “Seadrill has taken
the pandemic very seriously,” Dr Castañeda said. “They were very
aware of what would happen as things got worse, so they’ve done
campaigns to encourage crew members to talk to the doctor and
get the help they need. But it feels like it never stops, because
COVID-19 has come in waves. As soon as you think things are
going to slow down, there’s a new variant.”
Dr Castañeda is responsible for testing and diagnosis, treat-
ment, isolation protocols, proper documentation, and ensuring
the infected are removed from the rig via a specialized helicopter
service as quickly as possible.
Health and safety standards on the rig are still very rigorous,
with masking and constant sanitation seen as non-negotiable.
While these efforts have been worthwhile, there is also a sense
of burnout from the medics involved, with some reducing their
hours and some leaving the profession entirely.
“It was just too much,” Dr Castañeda explained. “We had all our
regular duties, and now all the COVID-19-related duties, as well.
It was a big change for all of us, because the workload tripled or
quadrupled from what it used to be. It was overwhelming.”
While having a second health professional onboard can ease
the burden and eliminate the need for 24-hour shifts, not all oper-
ators are willing to allot the capital necessary for that expense,
and there are no standards that can force them to do so.
Although there has been a slowdown in the frequency and
intensity of cases offshore, Dr Castañeda urged caution in assum-
ing the pandemic — and its related stresses — are over. He also
asked for understanding and compassion from the general
offshore community, as he and his fellow offshore doctors and
health professionals are putting their lives on the line to help the
crew stay safe. He has tried to manage not only the challenges
and expectations of the crew members but also his own fear that
he will not be able to return home to his family. “Often, what the
doctors do is taken for granted, but I hope that people can really
learn to appreciate us,” he said. “Whether you’re onshore or off-
shore, take a moment to tell your doctor they’re doing a great job,
and thank them for helping you.” DC
M AY/J U N E 202 2 • D R I L L I N G C O N T R AC T O R