Offshore staff
LONDON – Oil and Gas UK has called on all parties in the UK’s offshore sector to remain proactive on safety.
OGUK’s Health and Safety Report 2019 reveals that there were no offshore helicopter accidents last year, and the fatal accident rate per 100,000 flying hours fell to zero for the first time since 2001, despite flying hours increasing by 12% in 2018 to 77,286.
On the minus side, major hydrocarbon releases, which had declined steadily since 2012, increased to four across the shelf in 2018. The association is working to drive concerted action in this area with Step Change in Safety. Next year the association has identified four priority areas, namely hydrocarbon release prevention, major hazard management, improvements in aviation safety, and workforce health.
OGUK’s Health and Safety Manager Trevor Stapleton said: “We cannot take our eye off the ball. When it comes to getting people home safely, nothing is more important, and we must strive to always do better…
“Our report shows that the downward trend in HCRs shown in the three-year moving average has plateaued in 2018. If the rate of hydrocarbon releases continues on the current trajectory over the next two years, there will be an increase for the first time in over a decade.
“However, in the period reported it is worth noting that year-on-year increases such as those seen in 2009-10 and 2013 have been followed by improving performance. Nevertheless, we cannot be complacent.”
11/04/2019
