�The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today (Wednesday, 13th August, 2008) expressed concern at the continuing number of major and significant hydrocarbon releases in the offshore industry, much regarded as precursors to a major accident.
Figures released by the HSE revealed that there had been no improvement in the number of this kind of incident during 2007/08. During the year, 517 dangerous incidents were reported, 40 per penny of which were hydrocarbon releases. HSE's report on offshore statistics is uncommitted here.
Chair of the Health and Safety Executive Judith Hackitt issued a reminder to the offshore industry, "The statistics we have released today underscore that we are far from existence in a position where we privy feel comfortable. Although there are instances where improvements have been sustained, the control of potential major incident risks seems to have taken a game seat."
"We continue to be concerned at the failure to reduce the number of hydrocarbon releases, together with an increment in the number of major injuries. This suggests that basic safety systems are non being followed."
Ms Hackitt advised that HSE has been tasked to complete a major review of the industry and aforementioned: "Twenty days 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 limited review of the industry undermentioned the KP3 report on asset unity published last year. This industry review will be a crucial part of our on-going 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 couplet, it is more important than always that the offshore industry continues to invest in the sector to protect its workers and puts safety number one."
The Offshore Safety Statistics also indicated that the in 2007/08, the lowest rate e'er had been recorded for the bit of minor three twenty-four hours injuries at 148, and although it had remained broadly the same for the last six geezerhood, this was a pregnant achievement from the peak of virtually 300 in 1997/98.
Ian Whewell, Head of HSE's Offshore Division added, "Despite the reduction in minor injuries, the overall trend for these injuries does not yet show grounds of a significant decline and the potential for minor injuries to receive been major injuries remains ever present. The industriousness cannot afford to be complacent and faces a difficult chore if it intends to achieve its current direct of being the safest offshore sector in the world by 2010 and will need to make significant improvements in wild incident performance to reach this."
The statistics as well revealed an increase in the number of major injuries in the seaward sector in 2007/08p, emerging from 39 the late year, to 44. There were no fatalities in the industry for the first time in trine years, although there were 12 fatalities in marine operations associated with the offshore activities including the Bourbon Dolphin incident where eight lives were missed. These incidents do not come under the send back of the HSE to investigate and regulate and instead come under the control of marine government.
Headline statistics (Based on provisional figures for 2007/2008) - The main causes of major injuries were related to slips/trips/fall (15), organism trapped, smitten by or striking against equipment (13), or injuries associated with
