Offshore saturation divers: vascular function and the effect of Vitamin C and E supplementation, 2018

Diving activities are of the utmost important parts of Technip Norway work. Given the role of the divers in the offshore oil industry, it is essential to establish safe hyperbaric exposure limits to avoid adverse impacts on their health and safety. Offshore saturation divers work and live in closed hyperbaric chamber systems for consecutive periods of approximately 3 weeks. The work consists of 6-8 hour shifts in the water, and the rest of the time is spent inside the dry hyperbaric chamber. The divers a re faced with elevated ambient pressure and frequent pressure changes as well as exposure to higher partial pressure of oxygen (ppO2 ) than in normobaric air.

The underwater workers need to be physically fit and in good health to live and work under hyperbaric conditions. A Norwegian study has shown that saturation divers who have experienced decompression sickness (DCS) during their working career have significant reduction in health related quality of life. DCS is however a rare event, but the development of inflammatory biomarkers can be used as an index to evaluate physiological stress associated with asymptomatic (non-DCS) saturation diving. Reductions in ambient pressure cause the formation of vascular bubbles in the blood stream, these have adverse effects on the endotheliallining in the circulatory system. Omega-3 Fatty Acids have the ability to lower cardiovascular inflammation. The endogenous production of protective proteins triggered by omega-3 FAs may contribute to the cardiovascular defensive action.

The project will contribute to meet Technip objective to be a reference company in HSE and ensure that one of our most strategic activities are conducted in the safest manner. The outcome of this research will constitute a source of informat ion to the ongoing Fitness to Dive project run by NTNU under PETROMAKS program and the Offshore Diving industry in general.

For further information about "Offshore saturation divers: vascular function and the effect of Vitamin C and E supplementation, 2018", please contact the principal investigator.