ISO 35101:2017

Overview - ISO 35101:2017 (Arctic operations working environment)

ISO 35101:2017, "Petroleum and natural gas industries - Arctic operations - Working environment," provides principles and generic guidelines for the design and operation of fixed and floating oil & gas facilities (onshore and offshore) in Arctic climates. The standard aims to ensure optimal health, safety, human performance and decision‑making for personnel working in cold, remote and polar conditions. It applies to new facilities and modifications of existing structures, including exploration and accommodation units.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 35101 is organized to support both design and operational decision‑making. Core topics include:

• Risk management (Clause 5): guidance on incorporating Arctic working environment risks into the design process, hierarchy of controls, ALARP considerations and special Arctic assessments.
• Working environment hazards (Clause 6): identification and management of hazards common to Arctic workplaces (illumination, visibility and glare, noise and vibration, UV exposure, wildlife interactions) and provision of some threshold limit values (TLVs) and design references.
• Climatic conditions & preconditions (Clauses 7): metocean data, wind chill and determination of the need for permanent weather protection using tools such as CFD.
• Design philosophy & technical solutions (Clause 8): enclosures, anti‑icing/anti‑freezing, de‑icing, heat tracing, insulation, anti‑slip systems, falling‑ice protection, protected work areas, cabins, living quarters and medical facilities.
• Operational requirements (Clause 9): cold risk management, buddy systems, staged cold‑risk assessments (wind chill, exposure), work/rest/warm‑up regimes, clothing and PPE regimes (hands, feet, face, respiratory), fitness‑for‑work assessments, health & stress management, first aid and medical evacuation.
• Education & training (Clause 10): competency, supervision and training related to Arctic working environment risks.

Practical applications - who uses ISO 35101

ISO 35101 is used by organizations involved in Arctic petroleum and gas activities to reduce HSE risks and improve operability:

• Oil & gas operators and project managers - for design briefs and operational planning.
• Offshore/onshore facility designers and engineers - to specify enclosures, heat tracing, de‑icing and human factors requirements.
• HSE professionals and risk managers - for Arctic risk assessments, ALARP decisions and emergency planning.
• Medical services and occupational health teams - for fitness‑for‑work, evacuation planning and on‑site medical facility requirements.
• Contractors, training providers and regulators - to align procedures, training and inspections with Arctic working environment expectations.

Related standards (consult ISO/TC 67)

For integrated Arctic project delivery, consult other ISO outputs relevant to offshore structures, materials and HSE produced by ISO/TC 67. Refer to ISO.org for authoritative cross‑references and full normative links.

Keywords: ISO 35101, Arctic operations, working environment, petroleum and natural gas, cold climate, risk management, anti‑icing, heat tracing, wind chill, HSE.