^ Before you jump in your car Shutree I think it only fair to tell you I haven't actually been inside a gym in Korat.

This is just how I imagine they would be like... I've seen plenty of pictures on the internet.


Quote Originally Posted by nidhogg View Post
Just out of interest Mendip, are there specified footwear requirements for any part of the boat? Would have thought work mandated steel toe capped boots (obviously not for the gym, but for elsewhere, particularly outside)?
Nid, within the 'accommodation area' the only footwear requirement is that the shoes have a back... so no flip-flops or slipper things. A lot of people wear those open-toed sandal things with velcro straps. I tend to wear sport sandals (as in the picture above). I don't like open toed shoes, especially with my current big toe nail issues. The accommodation area basically comprises the interior of the vessel and includes the bridge, cabins, offices, the mess and any day rooms, etc. You're not allowed to wear work boots within the accommodation area because they mess up the floors and if you're working outside and need to pop in you have to out hose blue plastic covers over your boots or else the Chief Steward will give you a bollocking.

There are areas outside where you can wear your sandals, including many outside passageways around the upper levels of the ship and the helideck.

All outside work areas require full PPE to be worn, which as a minimum comprises steel toe-capped shoes/boots, coveralls, gloves, hard hat and safety glasses.

The back deck is the biggest outside work area...



The ROV hangar...



If the vessel is working within a platform 500 metre zone, full PPE must be worn anywhere outside. If we enter a 500 metre zone there will be an announcement over the tannoy and temporary signs will be put up at all exits.



I rarely need to go outside for work in Norway these days and I didn't even bring my PPE on this trip... my luggage weight allowance is much better used for taking strong cheddar cheese, black pudding and tins of SPAM back to Thailand.

Safety is now taken extremely seriously in this industry and repeated non-compliance of rules will lead to loss of your job. When I started I remember leaning off the back of a small trawler with a boat hook, trying to hook a tow-fish as it swung about on the A-frame in a force eight gale, with someone behind me holding my harness to stop me falling off the back of the boat where the prop was turning. I was young and stupid back then, but thankfully those kind of practices are long gone and even a trainee wouldn't be expected to be so foolish.