Acquiring natural resources like oil and gas or capturing wind energy to convert it into electricity requires advanced technologies such as drilling, seismic systems, and underwater cables to supply these resources internationally across oceans.
These complexities make the offshore industry more demanding than it may initially seem. An ideal candidate for work in this industry must possess mental resilience, physical endurance, and the technical expertise needed to cope with the nature of the job.
From routine checks to emergency drills and the provision of personal protective equipment, offshore companies provide extensive checklists to enhance operational safety. However, beyond these checklists, each worker is responsible for maintaining and maximizing their health.
Maintaining fitness is not just about meeting basic requirements; it can significantly affect safety, performance, and the overall well-being of yourself, your colleagues, and the working environment. If you want to go beyond the basic requirements and thrive in the offshore industry, then aim for the following:
1. Maintaining Physical Fitness
A lousy employee can only last briefly in the challenging offshore work, often demanding late-hour duties, extreme weather exposure, and heavy lifting. Therefore, to make sure you are at least risk of attaining injuries or any other health issues, you need to maintain your physical fitness with:
Cardiovascular Health
Improving cardiovascular health has immense benefits. The best part is that it can also be really fun to attain. Swimming, cycling, running, and daily aerobic exercises maintain cardiovascular health, relax you, and make you feel really active. With strong lungs and hearts, you can deal with all the hefty offshore tasks quite efficiently without getting any fatigue.
Strength Training
Nowadays, offshore tasks require you to operate many advanced technologies in the form of heavy machinery. For that, you need to build your muscle strength. That can be done quickly via strength training exercises, such as weight lifting or resistance training. A good muscle mass and strength are all you need to make the physically demanding offshore tasks much more accessible.
Flexibility and Balance
Daily stretches and yoga are some of the most amazing and serene exercises. They help you improve your balance and flexibility and, in fact, prevent the risks of injuries or falling incidents, which are very common when one works in confined spaces or uneven surfaces.
2. Improving Mental Resilience
The demanding offshore job doesn’t test your physical fitness only but your mental resilience. The long shifts, the isolation hours, and the high-stress atmosphere stress the significance of having good mental health. The following strategies can work for all to build mental resilience:
Stress Management
Meditation and deep breathing are some of the best exercises for managing stress. Most of all, including these practices in your routine improves your mental health by increasing your focus and enhancing your decision-making abilities.
Sleep Hygiene
The world often stresses the significance of cleanliness and hygiene, but remember that sleep hygiene is equally vital. Specifically, when it comes to offshore work, it becomes even more critical for better cognitive function. To maintain your sleep hygiene, limit your caffeine intake and prioritize a sleep schedule.
Social Support
Never take your problems, especially work-related issues, for granted. Don’t let them take a toll on your head. Speak about your problems with your friends, family, and colleagues. It will definitely boost your morale, even in a stressful and isolated environment.
3. Proactive Health Monitoring
Regular health monitoring is critical to detecting potential issues before they become major ones. Fitness assessments and monitoring vital signs like glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels aid in the early detection of health problems.
Self-Monitoring
Offshore employees must be aware of their bodies’ signals. Any persistent pain or unexplained fatigue should not be taken lightly. Timely medical advice can detect issues when they are minor and prevent them from escalating.
Fueling the Body
Self-monitoring becomes easier when you are sure of what you have been feeding your body and if you are keeping it hydrated. Taking care of your meals by ensuring that they are healthy and drinking plenty of water becomes fuel for your body and helps with the upkeep of health monitoring and maintenance.
Company Support
Finally, make sure you have your employer’s support. Companies that offer facilities like regular medical assessments, wellness activities, and resources for mental health support assist employees in regular health monitoring.
Final Words
Employees have the responsibility to take ownership of their health, specifically when they are working in a demanding offshore role. Beyond the checklist, maintaining one’s health enhances one’s performance and ensures long-term well-being.
