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Norway allows continued use of noisy helicopters despite employee health complaints
🇳🇴 Norway /Technology

Norway allows continued use of noisy helicopters despite employee health complaints

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Equinor employees report hearing damage and sleep problems from new AW189 helicopters, despite regulatory approval.
  • The Norwegian offshore industry safety authority (Havtil) has allowed continued use of the helicopters, overriding a safety stop.
  • Union representatives express strong disagreement, citing severe impacts on employees' quality of life and highlighting the irreversible nature of hearing damage.

Despite complaints of hearing damage and sleep disruption from employees using Equinor's new AW189 helicopters, Norway's offshore industry safety authority, Havtil, has permitted their continued operation. This decision overrides an earlier safety stop implemented by Equinor's own safety service due to excessive noise levels.

The feedback received feels strange.

— Per Steinar StamnesThe union leader expressed his reaction to the safety authority's decision.

Per Steinar Stamnes, leader of the offshore union Styrke Equinor, strongly criticized Havtil's decision, calling it a "strange feedback." He reported that employees have described their "joy of life" as ruined, suffering from sleep difficulties and experiencing a constant ringing in their ears, even from low-level noise like an electric toothbrush. Stamnes emphasized that hearing damage is irreversible, stating, "No one is dying, but hearing damage cannot be repaired."

Havtil acknowledged the noise challenges but stated that noise-reducing measures have been implemented on the helicopters. The authority also noted Equinor's offer of alternative transport, allowing employees to opt for different helicopters if they wish to avoid the AW189. However, Havtil concluded that the situation does not pose an immediate danger to life and health, as risks can be mitigated through other means, placing the primary responsibility on operators for ensuring safe transport.

I have received calls from employees in the last two days who say their joy of life has been ruined. They struggle to sleep and get a terrible sound in their head just from using an electric toothbrush.

— Per Steinar StamnesThe union leader described the severe impact of helicopter noise on employees' well-being.

Stamnes remains unconvinced, expressing doubt that the alternative transport arrangement will be effective. He pointed to the significant uncertainty employees face and argued that the company cannot shift the responsibility for risk exposure onto individual workers. The union leader believes the company should have "complained" about the issue rather than accepting the current situation, advocating for a more robust approach to protecting worker health.

No one is dying, but hearing damage cannot be repaired.

— Per Steinar StamnesThe union leader highlighted the permanent consequences of noise exposure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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