Offshore inspection weakened

Government meddling in the offshore inspection regime has been slammed by the RMT maritime union.

The Piper Alpha disaster 25 years ago resulted in 167 deaths. The Cullen Report into the disaster recommended reforming the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to include a stand-alone inspectorate for the offshore industry, the Offshore Safety Division.

However, the division has disappeared as part of an HSE reorganisation and has become part of a new “Energy Division” within the safety watchdog (see Labour Research, July 2013, pages 9-11).

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said there were serious concerns among the workforce and HSE offshore inspectors themselves.

These revolve around the fact that the proposals will undermine the culture of continuous improvement in offshore safety which has been critical in avoiding accidents and safety emergencies.

Crow said the initiative was “clearly a cost-cutting measure”. The union’s fears are well-founded. The number of major gas and oil leaks from the UK’s offshore installations rose last year from three to nine and was the highest in 14 years according to HSE data.

A recent survey of 5,000 North Sea oil and gas workers found that three-quarters believe the scrapping of the HSE’s offshore division will undermine safety. The survey, by OilandGasPeople.com, the world’s largest oil and gas jobs board, also found that almost two-thirds (62%) were worried the move would lead to another Piper Alpha disaster.

www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/who.htm

www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=175463&int1stParentNodeID=89732

www.oilandgaspeople.com/news/717/scrapping-of-hse-offshore-division-will-undermine-safety-survey-finds