HSE: safety systems not being followed by offshore industry

Just a month after the 20^th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster, the HSE has expressed concern at the continuing number of major and significant hydrocarbon releases in the offshore industry – often regarded as precursors to a major accident.

Figures from the HSE show that there has been no improvement in the number of this kind of incident during 2007-2008. During the year, 517 dangerous incidents were reported, 40% of which were hydrocarbon releases.

Chair of the HSE Judith Hackitt issued a reminder to the offshore industry:

“We continue to be concerned at the failure to reduce the number of hydrocarbon releases, together with an increase in the number of major injuries. This suggests that basic safety systems are not being followed.

"Twenty years on from Piper Alpha, we must learn key lessons to ensure that failures of basic systems do not lead to major incidents. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, James Purnell, has asked us to conduct a thorough review of the industry following the KP3 report on asset integrity published last year. This industry review will be a crucial part of our ongoing work in this high priority programme.

"With the demand for oil and gas so high and with assets being worked beyond their original intended life span, it is more important than ever that the offshore industry continues to invest in the sector to protect its workers and puts safety first."

The statistics also revealed an increase in the number of major injuries in the offshore sector in 2007-2008, rising from 39 the previous year, to 44. There were no fatalities in the industry for the first time in three years, and the main cause of major injuries were related to:

• slips, trips and falls;
• being trapped, struck by or striking against equipment; or
• injuries associated with lifts/pulls/pushes/swinging of loads.