Hostile times

The risks faced by British companies and workers abroad include the current problems experienced in the oil industry in Iraq. The industry has suffered from a rapid fall in oil production, a direct consequence of continued attacks on pipelines, energy infrastructures and oilfield personnel in the country, all frequent occurrences since the Iraqi war.

Attacks range from oil wells and fields being set alight by mortars and bombs to pipelines being frequently attacked, in addition to other incidences of sabotage and attacks on infrastructures.

For companies and workers employed abroad, oilfield security has understandably and increasingly become an area of concern.

The ever increasing threat of oil company employees being kidnapped or coming under attack is also adding to the overall concern. In recent months, four oil workers – one of whom was British – disappeared from the Niger Delta to be taken hostage in Nigeria. The kidnappers threatened to kill their captives and kidnap more workers if the company and government did not bow to their demands. One incident on an oil pipeline killed 11 people following a fire, which took three days to extinguish. Forty-three workers were also taken hostage on an oil rig off western Nigeria by local youths, who were demanding contract jobs.

Urgent need for security

In these times of unrest there is, therefore, an urgent need for British firms operating in hostile environments to address security. Breaches in security can have disastrous effects on the operational profits of a company, not to mention the human cost that attacks may involve. One option available would be to improve the current security systems used to protect their facilities and employees.

However, firms operating in sectors such as the petrochemical, industrial, aerospace or offshore industries also need to take into account the physical environments in which they work before choosing a security system. These often require a specialised equipment, which can operate effectively in difficult conditions.

The Iraqi and Nigerian environments, for example, where many British firms choose to conduct business, can be extremely cold or hot and dusty. Any security system installed to protect property in these settings must be able to operate in unpredictable and extreme conditions.

In addition, the petrochemical, industrial, aerospace and offshore industries all pose a potential risk of explosions because volatile gases, vapours, mists or dusts are often created as a by-product of the activity.

Explosion proof solutions

Standard CCTV equipment may not adequate and, therefore, explosion proof CCTV solutions have been developed for these industries to enable them to monitor critical plant process activity, potential health and safety risks and to help prevent crime, intrusion and terrorism.

As a manufacturer of ATEX approved housings and pan and tilt heads and with more than 25 years experience in this market, Bewator has developed Phoenix explosion proof solutions.

The range has an explosion-proof camera head, camera housings (with sun shields and heaters for extreme conditions) and a pan and tilt head for camera control. Approved to ATEX IIB or IIC, it eliminates the risk of volatile gas, vapours or dusts being ignited by containing any heat, spark or flames generated by the CCTV cameras and electronic equipment inside the camera housings. A factory pre-build option of camera and lenses is also available. Another option for companies looking to improve their security is an integrated solution such as the Bewator 2010 system, which tackles the issue of intruders.

This fully integrates intruder alarm with access control, video management, and fire warning systems, provides centralised control and remote surveillance of one or more buildings and enables end-users to monitor, act upon and follow up security-related issues. Functions include personal attack alarms, environmental alarms and building management functions, such as heating, lighting and ventilation controls.

Remote monitoring functions allow multiple sites (offshore platforms, oil rigs, buildings, or access points) to be monitored from one central location and from a safe distance. This is particularly useful to facilities, which, if under threat, would be completely cut off from the outside world.

* Jon Hill is Video Product Specialist for Bewator Visit: www.bewator.co.uk