Ipieca and its member companies are committed to protecting their people, supporting the communities where they operate and continuing to provide the essential energy the world needs during this unprecedented time. Ipieca plays a critical role in convening its members, and key stakeholders around this issue, to exchange information, facilitate peer-learning, and collaboration to slow the spread of the virus.
Our member companies include multinational energy majors, oil and gas service companies and industry associations with a global footprint and networks covering the entire sector. By convening our worldwide membership, we allow for the global circulation and adoption of COVID-19 initiatives, helping to ensure the wellbeing of millions of workers and communities around the world.
Ipieca-IOGP Health Committee: COVID-19 good practice
The joint Ipieca-IOGP Health Committee has been sharing good practices on a weekly basis on issues such as travel, screening, how and when to evacuate infected people, working in remote and offshore locations, social distancing and work rotations. They have produced an internal briefing document on the mental health impacts of the pandemic.
On 27 May 2020, the committee published a statement outlining procedures for returning to work, which provides a list of factors to consider as companies prepare for their workers to return to offices.
The committee has also produced a paper on COVID-19 testing which describes types of testing, the opportunities and limitations they provide, and a method to assess if testing is appropriate for a specific operational site or organization. This was last updated in 18 December 2020.
The committee published a position paper on COVID-19 vaccine usage. This document aims to help companies understand vaccine efficacy and provides guidance for company policy development aimed at achieving high rates of vaccination amongst staff. This was last updated in November 2021.
In April 2021, Ipieca and IOGP published new guidance on Pandemic management in the oil and gas industry which outlines good practices, information and strategies developed by Ipieca and IOGP members to respond to the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July 2021, Ipieca and IOGP published an awareness briefing on Mental health risks and the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is now a major factor in our personal and professional lives. There is an increased need to ensure our workplaces support good mental health, as global public health experts have warned that we are likely to see an increase in mental health issues. This position paper explores how the pandemic is impacting mental health, mental health threat factors, their business-related impacts and prevention and mitigation measures.
Ipieca Social Responsibility Group: Enabling a global response
Ipieca's Social Responsibility Group has been focusing on the role of business in fighting COVID-19. Our members have been sharing ideas of how to connect, collaborate and take action to slow the spread of the virus, with a focus on understanding human rights impacts and supporting those most vulnerable within our supply chains and communities.
Ipieca Association members network: Making use of our worldwide network
Ipieca is also convening, on a fortnightly basis, its unparalleled network of 27 oil and gas industry associations covering every region of the world. Together, they share details and case studies of how they are helping their in-country members protect their staff, respond to government regulations on COVID-19, and prepare for a return to work in the 'new normal'.
Ipieca Oil Spill Group: Responding during the pandemic
The Oil Spill Group is undertaking a new work stream Planning for response in a pandemic which will reassess existing oil spill contingency plans in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. It aims to ensure that measures taken to stop the spread of the virus such as border restrictions and reduced travel networks do not act as barriers to timely oil spill response efforts.
Through the Global Initiative partnership, IMO and Ipieca are reaching out to Member States to keep them informed of the latest guidance on oil spill prevention and response during the pandemic.
The oil and gas industry: Demonstrating its value in times of crisis
From setting up dedicated COVID-19 hospitals and donating millions of dollars to health organizations,to providing free fuel for the emergency services and making sure the most vulnerable members of the community have food delivered to their door, the response of Ipieca members to combat the virus has been extraordinary.
With its global footprint, experience in dealing with complex challenges and logistics expertise, Ipieca members are playing a key role in private sector response to the COVID-19 crisis.
For complete updates on Ipieca members' COVID-19 responses please click on the links below.
As coronavirus continues to impact every corner of the globe, the oil and gas industry is committed ensuring the wellbeing of the communities where they operate and the health and safety of their workers as they continue to provide the world with the power it needs to defeat COVID-19.
