Training on Public Health Impact Assessment of Oil and Gas Projects

Oil and gas projects can generate significant economic and social benefits, but they may also affect public health through changes in air quality, water resources, noise, waste management, population movement, occupational exposure, and access to health services. Governments, operators, financiers, and development partners increasingly require comprehensive Public Health Impact Assessments (PHIAs) to identify, evaluate, and manage health risks throughout the project lifecycle. Integrating health considerations into project planning improves regulatory compliance, strengthens stakeholder confidence, and promotes sustainable development.

This course provides participants with practical knowledge and skills to conduct Public Health Impact Assessments (PHIAs) for oil and gas projects. Participants learn internationally recognized approaches to identifying health hazards, assessing exposure pathways, evaluating vulnerable populations, and designing effective mitigation measures. The programme covers health baseline studies, epidemiological methods, environmental health, occupational and community health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, emergency preparedness, stakeholder engagement, health monitoring, and alignment with Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs). Participants also examine international standards, regulatory frameworks, and best practices for integrating health into project planning and operations.

Through practical exercises and real-world case studies, participants develop the ability to assess health risks, prepare evidence-based health impact reports, implement mitigation strategies, and support healthier and more sustainable oil and gas developments.

Duration

5 Days

Who Should Attend

• Public health professionals
• Environmental health officers
• Health Impact Assessment practitioners
• Environmental and social specialists
• HSE managers
• Occupational health professionals
• Environmental consultants
• Oil and gas project managers
• Government health officials
• Environmental regulators
• Community development officers
• Social safeguard specialists
• NGO and development practitioners
• Emergency response coordinators
• Sustainability managers

Individual Impact

Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Conduct Public Health Impact Assessments using internationally recognized methodologies.
• Identify and evaluate health risks associated with oil and gas projects.
• Design health baseline studies and collect relevant health data.
• Assess environmental, occupational, and community health impacts.
• Develop practical health mitigation and monitoring plans.
• Integrate public health considerations into Environmental and Social Impact Assessments.
• Strengthen stakeholder engagement on health-related issues.
• Support emergency preparedness and disease prevention planning.
• Improve public health reporting and regulatory compliance.
• Enhance professional expertise in health impact assessment and sustainable project development.

Organisational Impact

After sponsoring employees for this training, organizations will be able to:

• Improve identification and management of public health risks across oil and gas projects.
• Strengthen compliance with national regulations and international lender requirements.
• Enhance environmental and social performance through integrated health management.
• Reduce project delays resulting from unmanaged community health concerns.
• Improve relationships with host communities and public health authorities.
• Strengthen emergency preparedness and health risk response capabilities.
• Improve the quality of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments.
• Support responsible project development and sustainable operations.
• Enhance corporate reputation through proactive health risk management.
• Promote healthier, safer, and more resilient communities around project sites.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and methodologies of Public Health Impact Assessment.
• Identify health risks associated with oil and gas projects.
• Conduct health baseline assessments and exposure analyses.
• Develop health mitigation, monitoring, and management plans.
• Integrate health considerations into environmental and social assessments.
• Support evidence-based decision-making for sustainable project development.

Module 1: Introduction to Public Health Impact Assessment

• Principles of Public Health Impact Assessment
• Public health concepts in oil and gas projects
• International HIA frameworks and standards
• Relationship between PHIA and ESIA
• Practical Exercise: Define the scope of a Public Health Impact Assessment.
• Case Study: Public health assessment for an onshore oil development project.

Module 2: Health Baseline Studies and Risk Identification

• Health baseline data collection
• Epidemiological methods
• Exposure pathways and vulnerable populations
• Environmental determinants of health
• Practical Exercise: Conduct a community health baseline assessment.
• Case Study: Identifying health risks associated with pipeline construction.

Module 3: Health Risk Assessment and Mitigation

• Health hazard identification
• Risk characterization and prioritization
• Mitigation planning
• Health monitoring indicators
• Practical Exercise: Develop a health risk matrix and mitigation plan.
• Case Study: Managing public health risks during refinery operations.

Module 4: Community Health, Occupational Health, and Emergency Preparedness

• Community health management
• Occupational health considerations
• Communicable disease prevention
• Emergency preparedness and response planning
• Practical Exercise: Prepare a community health management plan.
• Case Study: Public health management during a large oil and gas construction project.

Module 5: Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement, and Performance Monitoring

• Health impact reporting
• Stakeholder consultation and communication
• Regulatory compliance
• Continuous monitoring and evaluation
• Practical Exercise: Prepare a Public Health Impact Assessment report.
• Case Study: Integrating health monitoring into long-term project operations.