1. 18
Providing Offshore Workers
with the Safest and
Soundest Night’s Sleep
Colin Middler, Mattress Assembler at Glencraft
W
ith the oil and gas industry facing challenging times, cost
cutting measures are at the forefront of operators’ minds
and spending is being scrutinised to see where savings can
be made. One area which should never be compromised, however,
is giving offshore workers a safe and sound night’s sleep.
Aberdeen-based Glencraft, a manufacturer and supplier of high-
quality, handmade mattresses, has been providing beds to the
offshore industry for many years and within the past five years alone,
has supplied over 25,000 mattresses to its energy sector clients.
General manager Graham McWilliam is reminding the industry why
a worker’s bed is so important, and why cheaper alternatives
don’t compare:
“It’s vital to remember that sleep is imperative for those working
long shifts, as a person suffering from fatigue is more likely to make
mistakes. When staff are engaged in both physically and mentally
demanding work, at times within dangerous situations, this can lead
to serious accidents.
“Furthermore, and even more importantly, operators must maintain
the high standards of safety present on the operational workfloor
through to the accommodation modules too.
“Ensuring furniture meets strict fire regulations is a British legal
requirement for businesses, and British Standard BS7177
applies directly to mattresses.
“Mattresses may be seen as a minor safety consideration, however
in offshore installations, which according to current standards are
regarded as highly hazardous environments, all inventory taken on
board an installation must be rigorously tested. In order to comply
with safety regulations, mattresses offshore should ideally be ignition
resistant to a Crib 7 fire rating, as well as being cigarette and match
resistant. This rating directly relates to the slower ignition and faster
dying out time compared to a standard Crib 5.
“Whilst Crib 5 may be acceptable offshore, the UK oil and gas
industry has established itself as a centre of excellence for HSE and
to truly demonstrate a commitment to safety, a Crib 7 rating should
be preferred.
“It’s unlikely that a mattress
will be the source of a
fire, but a non-compliant
mattress can add hugely
to the combustion
load of a room”

2. 19
“Glencraft is a registered charity and social
enterprise, and 80% of our workforce is
disadvantaged, disabled or visually impaired.
Understanding first-hand the importance of safety
in the workplace, we have applied this ethos to
our product development by producing a high
quality Crib 7 mattress specifically for
dangerous environments.
“Our Crib 7 mattress has been tested for all
sources of ignition, including smouldering, flaming
and radiant heat, and is increasingly becoming
the product of choice for many industry operators
and accommodation suppliers who want to
demonstrate their commitment to safety.
“A guide compiled by the Furniture Industry
Research Association (FIRA) states that furniture
and every component in any premises contributes
to overall fire safety, and hence the level of ignition
resistance of every item of furniture must
be considered.
“Controlling the ignitibility (the ease with which
the item can be ignited) is a key principle of fire
safety. If potential sources of fire in an offshore
environment can be identified and the mattress
made as resistant to this as possible, the
likelihood of an incident can be
seriously reduced.
“This is something all companies endeavour to
do, but is much harder to control in a hazardous
environment. Therefore all precautions must be
taken to avoid the fire significantly spreading and
ensure personnel are safe.
“A report published by the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE) stated that in 2013/14 there
were 115 hydrocarbon releases on UK offshore
installations, a 20% increase from the previous
year. This, as well as the growing amount of
electrical devices being used in accommodation
modules, means that ignition risks are
ever growing.
“Finding a supplier who is willing to produce
bespoke items for offshore use can be
challenging. Sadly, in the pursuit to meet
reduced budgets and in the hope of increasing
their own sales, many suppliers are offering
cheaper, poorer quality products. Although it’s
unlikely that a mattress will be the source of a
fire, a non-compliant mattress can add hugely
to the combustion load of a room and will last
just a couple of minutes in a fire. Non-modified
foam can burn so fast, it is often unavailable for
investigation post incident.
“Having a sound understanding of the energy
sector and its stringent requirements, our
mattresses are continually tested to ensure
that nothing is left to chance therefore giving
customers peace of mind that we are in
compliance with all legal requirements is
key for Glencraft.
“In all aspects of offshore installations, operators
have an obligation to personnel to ensure every
safety precaution is met. It must be the number
one priority when purchasing every day products,
such as mattresses. Considering the potential
outcomes of not following this advice, a safe
night’s sleep is one area which should never be
compromised.”
Graham McWilliam, General Manager, Glencraft
“growing amount of electrical devices
used in accommodation modules
means that ignition risks are growing”