HSE report concludes working offshore is becoming safer
LONDON — New offshore safety statistics have suggested that working in the industry is becoming safer.
The figures revealed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on Wednesday show that the combined fatal and major injury rate and major hydrocarbon releases are at their lowest level since regulation of the industry began more than 20 years ago.
Chair of the Health and Safety Commission Judith Hackitt said: “The improvements in major and fatal accident rates are encouraging but the industry must not take its eye of the ball. Investment in safety must continue despite the current economic climate putting a squeeze on resources.
“Although we were pleased to see no fatalities occurring in offshore operations for a second consecutive year, this good news was of course overshadowed by the tragic events of April 1 when the Super Puma helicopter crashed with the loss of 16 passengers. The same day, in a separate incident, a worker received fatal injuries aboard a dive support vessel in transit.
“Even though HSE’s remit does not extend to air and marine transport activities, these incidents show that hazards are ever present offshore. The loss of 17 offshore workers this year is a tragedy and stark reminder to us all.
“The KP3 review, published just last month, shows that progress is being made in improving safety in the industry and HSE inspectors will continue to adopt a tough approach to poor performers to help preserve and improve the industry’s safety performance as a whole.”
30 major injuries were reported by those working offshore in the past year, a drop of 14 compared with 2007/08 figures. The combined fatal and major injury rate reduced to 106 per 100,000 workers in 2008/09 compared with 156 in 2007/08 and 146 in 2006/07.
The number of major and significant hydrocarbon releases, regarded as potential precursors to an incident, also showed marked improvement with 61 in last year compared with 74 in 2007/08.
Ian Whewell, Head of HSE’s Offshore Division, said: “Although I welcome the reduction in major and significant hydrocarbon releases the challenge is to secure sustained improvement. Carrying forward last year’s success will require continued industry focus on integrity management, safe systems of work, supervision, risk assessment and competence.
“Worryingly, early indicators for 2009/10 suggest last year’s improved performance is currently not being delivered.
“Renewed effort is also essential to reduce the number of minor injuries which have only been showing a slow rate of decline. A focus on training, together with identification and management of hazards and risks are key factors for preventing incidents.”
No Divers Fatalities This Year?
Interesting article, apparently HSE doesn’t consider the lose of Chris Wilson in May of this year a fatality. Nor any of the other divers that have died to date.
Mr. Wilson’s death is outside HSE’s jurisdiction, I believe. That’s why statistics don’t really tell the story. Doug
and the US oil companies and their government sure wouldn’t want an organisation like the UK HSE sniffing around and shutting down GOM operations now, would they?
C-DIVER Staff member, you are inccorect as to makeing the staement that the HSE is out side of the GOM jurisdiction. Even though Veolia is here state side, the vessels fly under a forgein flag (french). In fact the people that were stationed on the vessel when the cheaply produced and manufactured substandard rigging broke killing Chris, were in fact HSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IMCA is alive and well in the GOM and I for one welcome it, boot the ADC shut that boys club down as many of the members are not even qaulified Divers!
Pleas refrain from makeing comments about any thing related to our profession when it comes to the GOM.NORTH SEA,OR MILITARY! We appreciate your web site and know you work hard to maintain it, so you do your job and we will do ours.
Thanks
Shaun Flynn (DV-1)
While HSE is reporting that working offshore is becoming safer; The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) located in the UK, published Report #419 in May 2009 “Safety Performance Indicators Report.”
This OGP Report’s Executive Summary stated the following:
“Results in 2008 were mixed. Although the lost time injury frequency (LTIF) and total recordable injury rates (TRIR) were the lowest on record (down 17% and 22% respectively when compared with 2007 results and continuing a long-term trend for improvement), it is clear that the severity of incidents being reported is increasing. This is apparent from a 4% rise in the fatal accident rate (FAR) and the increasing number of days lost per each restricted workday case – up 16% on the 2003-2007 average severity.
Figures from 2008 show that the most prevalent type of fatal incidents in the upstream oil & gas industry remain associated with vehicle operations or with being struck by moving objects or released energy. Collectiely, these account for 48% of fatalities recorded by incident type.”
So while the overall number of incidents are decreasing , the severity of injuries and number of lost work days in increasing. So is it really becoming safer?