This report is produced by the Health and Safety Executive for Step Change in Safety.

It provides a quarterly summary of offshore accident statistics for the current year and the previous year.

It is based on accidents reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, and uses the injury categories defined in the regulations.

The data is presented in four sections:

1) Fatal and major injuries,

2) Over-3-day injuries,

3) Rolling three-quarter averages,

4) Injuries by Work Process Environment (offshore discipline).

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today urged the offshore industry to make further investments to protect the growing number of workers and to meet its future safety goals.

HSE safety statistics for the offshore industry for 2006/07 published today show that two workers were killed and 39 suffered major injuries. This compares to two fatalities and 50 major injuries in 2005/06. The combined fatal and major injury rate decreased by 35 per cent to 145.51 per 100,000 workers compared with 225.4 in 2005/06.  However, the rate of less serious injuries involving three or more days off work has improved little since 2003 and this year increased by 7%.

The offshore statistics bulletin is available at: hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/stat0607.htm.

The Marine Awareness Course was developed to familiarise and update knowledge and awareness of marine operations in connection with offshore installations.  It is intended for those personnel who have responsibility for, or are engaged in, marine activities.  Previously, those who were appointed to this role were often from a marine background.  More recently, with a reduction in the number of available marine personnel, those appointed to these roles may have no previous marine experience.  This course is intended to give these personnel - such as platform services supervisors, services team leaders and deck foremen - an understanding of marine operations and how the activities on the installation can impact on those operations.  It also refreshes and updates knowledge of those already familiar with marine operations.

The dates are as follows: 11th – 12th September 2007, 30th – 31st October 2007,  04th – 05th December 2007

Start time is 1300 and the venue is: Treetops Hotel, 161 Springfield Road, Aberdeen,  AB15 7AQ
Further details are available from: secretary@marinesafetyforum.co.uk.  Tel: +44(0)7969 497580 or Bookings  can be made via e-mail: bookings@petrofactraining.com  or Tel:  0845 606 2 909

The 'Fire & Blast Technical Directory' was developed as a Joint Industry Project carried out by the Fire & Blast Information Group and sponsored by OGP and Oil & Gas UK to further disseminate knowledge in all areas relevant to hydrocarbon fires and explosions. It aims to be a comprehensive and up-to-date reference for both offshore and onshore engineers.

Further information can be found at : 
http://www.fabig.com

Contact:
Guillaume Vannier
FABIG Project Manager
SCI
Silwood Park
Ascot
Berkshire SL5 7QN
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 636 550
Fax: +44 (0) 1344 636 570
Email: g.vannier@steel-sci.com

HSE. Science and Reasearch Outlook have produced a report on the subject of Offshore Collisions and have determined that; "Experience of offshore oil and gas extraction in the UKCS and other areas of the world has demonstrated that collision is not an abstract event. For example, the Ship/Platform Collision Incident Database contains details of 557 collision incidents that occurred on the UKCS, recorded between 1975 and 2001. AEA Technology has undertaken a project providing an overview of collision detection in the UKCS which reviews detection methods currently used in the UKCS and discusses the issues involved."

The report includes some interesting and thought provoking material and can be found at: http://www.sro.hse.gov.uk/View_Article.aspx?id=151

Understanding the real consequences of accidents and incidents

Creating greater awareness and better understanding about the real and long term consequences of incidents has been a key aspect of the work undertaken by the Step Change Hazard Recognition and Risk Awareness Workgroup. Following the successful launch of the DVD "Martin’s Story" which highlighted the impact of a real life incident offshore to a young roustabout, the workgroup has now produced the Consequences Library Resource DVD featuring 9 short films about the impact of accidents and incidents.

The International Regulators' Forum - an informal group of oil and gas regulators from Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States - will host the 2007 International Regulators' Offshore Safety Conference from the 3rd to the 6th December 2007, at the Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort in Miami, Florida.

Regulatory officials from all nations with ongoing or proposed offshore oil and gas activity are invited to attend. The purpose is to share experiences and to compare differences in regulatory approach and safety performance.

Registration for this event is now open. Attendees can register online using a credit card or they can mail-in their registration with a cheque or money order. All registrations must be received by the 9th November 2007.

Please click on the relevant links below to view a summary of the meeting, presentation slides, attendees list and a selection of photographs from the event.

The EI in association with UK Oil and Gas (formerly UKOOA) has published new guidance to assist the aim of securing improvement in the management of offshore installation integrity by development and promotion of industry good practices and suitable performance measures.

The list of workplace exposure limits EH40, for use with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 has been updated to include new workplace exposure limits which come into force on 1 October 2007.

For further information se the links below:

http://www.hsenews.com/2007/06/26/list-of-approved-workplace-exposure-limits-updated/

Issue 5 of HSE's Tea-shack News includes brief articles on workforce involvement on offshore safety cases, installation integrity, HSE's inspection themes for 2007/8 and asbestos offshore. Full text is in the attachment. 

The Energy Institute in association with Oil & Gas UK (formerly UKOOA) has published new guidance to provide best practice for the management of safety critical elements for offshore installations, which will be of use principally for those involved in assurance and verifi cation. The document should also provide a useful guide for duty holders, managers of operations, safety, engineering and maintenance functions, and act as an initial introduction for those who wish to become involved in the subject.

The purpose of this document is to provide industry guidance for the management of Safety Critical Elements (SCEs) on offshore installations operating on the UK continental shelf. SCEs are the equipment and systems which provide the basis to manage the risks associated with Major Accident Hazards (MAHs). This document should be read in conjunction with the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Guidelines. The publication updates and replaces that of the same title produced by UKOOA in 1996.
 
The starting point for this guidance is a review of the applicable legislation and a summary of the key concepts underpinning the management of SCEs. The document then describes the process by which SCEs are identified and performance standards set. The process of verification is central to ensuring that the integrity of SCEs is maintained and guidance is provided for the management of verifi cation throughout the various stages of the asset lifecycle. The document also deals with the management of change in relation to SCEs and concludes by providing examples of good practice, addressing frequently asked questions and identifying sources of further information.
 
For details on how to obtain a copy of the guidelines please click on the related information link below:-

Prompting continuous recognition and awareness of hazards and risks for a safer working environment

Step Change in Safety launched its revised Task Risk Assessment Guide at the second annual Industry Leadership Day held on 30th May. The new guidance highlights the need for a greater degree of awareness of the risks and hazards inherent in the offshore oil and gas industry, through situational awareness and dynamic risk assessment. Use of situational awareness and dynamic risk assessment throughout the execution of a task are seen as key elements in understanding and addressing hazards and risks to prevent incidents and act as important prompts to stop the job if unacceptable risks are identified.

The revised guidance stems from investigations conducted by the Hazard Recognition and Risk Awareness Workgroup. A review of studies produced by other industrial sectors indicated that the offshore industry was considerably advanced in the tools and techniques it employs to help recognise hazards and reduce risk. However, the workgroup concluded that, despite a proactive approach to addressing hazards and risks, the subject of continuously assessing risks throughout the execution of a task needed to be addressed by revising the successful 2004 Task Risk Assessment Guide (TRA).

As a consequence the new guidance includes important prompts and best practice for the re-evaluation of workplace tasks and the need to take situational awareness factors into account, such as weather conditions, new personnel, additional activities on the site or changes during the course of completing the task. The guidance also advises that full on-site visits should always be conducted when assessing a TRA for new tasks and highlights the importance of toolbox talks.  Ensuing that everyone involved in the job understands the roles and responsibilities of all members of the team, as well as recognising the risks and hazards related to the task, is vital if incidents are to be prevented.  

Additional tools:
A new TRA process flow chart has also been developed reflecting the importance of on-site evaluation and prompts re-evaluation, and if necessary, stopping the job if new hazards and risk are identified. The new flowchart is available in the guide and also as an A3 poster. In addition a personal prompt card is available to help individuals to consider the processes, responsibilities and hazards during a job.

Workforce ideas to improve safety that have been put forward during the Boots on for Safety campaign are driving the Step Change agenda in 2007.  Five new initiatives have been adopted by the Step Change Leadership to address some of the key issues raised from the Boots on for Safety feedback.

New workgroups have been created to support work on each of the initiatives.  The key issues are:

Competency and support for new starts:
The Step Change Leadership have supported workforce views that a standard green hat policy was required to support new starts to the industry.  Consequenty, a new green hat policy has been agreed and will be introduced in May 2007.  The new policy will ensure that both new starts and experienced workers new to the location can be more readily identified and supported.  In addition the Step Change Co-Chairs have been in discussion with the industry's Workforce Capability and Capacity Steering Group to identity industry standards and address any gaps that may occur. 

Reviewing consistent permit processes:
There was strong feedback from the workforce for more consistent industry processes.  Therefore, the Leadership Team have re-established the Integrated Safe System of Work Users Group (ISSOW) to consider permit processes.  It is expected that the Users Group will report back to Step Change with their recommendations for change.  In addition, the Control of Work Workgroup has been created to consult on permit to work systems and the impact of different approaches on safety performance.

Greater focus on asset integrity:
A new Asset Integrity Workgroup has been formed for 2007.  The group's remit will include a stronger focus on major hazards and will align with HSE's main influencing networks and process safety identified in the HSE's Major Hazards Strategic Programme.  More details on the group's remit will be confirmed at a later date.

Improved incident feedback to the workforce:
Sharing information about  incidents and what we can learn from accidents is fundamental to the Step Change philosophy.  This is also seen as an important leadership role.  Consequently, the Visible Leadership Workgroup has been formed to review industry supervisory and leadership expectations and behaviours.   The new workgroup will be looking to create opportunities to refocus attention on these expectations.  Step Change is also working to encourage wider sharing of information through the Step Change website.

New Guidance for on-site supervision and reduction of paperwork:
The Step Change Leadership Team fully supported workforce concerns that supervisors should have adequate time to supervise activities on-site.  New guidance will be published shortly regarding Step Change's best practice guidance on on-site supvision and the reduction of paperwork.

Step Change in Safety through to 2010

After 3 months in the job, having taken over as Step Change Support Team Leader from Greg Washington, I’d like to share with you how I feel about Step Change and its objectives.

I have been involved in Step Change from the outset in 1997 via network meetings and enjoyed attending Lochter, occasionally accessing the Sadie database for incident information and using some of the guidance publications.

However, I have never really appreciated how important this forum is as:

-   a centre of safety intelligence
-   a catalyst for best practice sharing
-   a promoter of operational experience and engagement with the industry
-   responsible for working improvements in safety, aligned with the 3 pillar   
    strategies model.

Over the past 2 years, Greg has greatly improved the profile and the engagement of Step Change at all levels within the industry. In 2005 the Step Change Leadership Team agreed to concentrate on the 3 strategic areas of hazards & risk, personal ownership for safety and asset integrity supported by the important foundation of leadership, communication and co-operation. The aim was to put the Step back into Step Change to achieve the vision of “in 2010, the UK is the safest place to work in the worldwide Oil & Gas Industry”.

My belief is that the temple model is absolutely right with respect to the foundation, the 3 pillar strategies and the vision.

I have been challenged on the feasibility of achieving the vision and my response to that is that if anyone does not believe it is possible, they should not be in the oil and gas industry.  The vision is truly possible and it has to be achieved.  It is totally unacceptable to keep hurting people.

It is, however, an extremely challenging target but, the bigger the challenge, the bigger the prize and think of how satisfying it will be achieving it! The Vision will only be achieved if we all believe in it and are committed to it! It has to be reinforced and communicated constantly. Senior management need to be inspirational and demonstrate that they ‘live and breathe safety’ via the likes of ‘Boots on for Safety’, which will go a long way in earning the trust and respect of the workforce.

What isn’t possible is that the Step Change Team can achieve it alone – we need the support, engagement, energy, drive and passion, from all who work in the industry.  It is imperative that everyone appreciates this and that Step Change isn’t just about running network meetings, producing best practice guidance and sitting behind a desk answering day to day administrative queries.

In addition, we do need to engage more with you.  I know from the number of people who tell me that they know very little, if anything about Step Change, that participation by all is key and we are actively working this.

We have started engaging more with Liaisons, HSE Managers and OIMs on a face to face basis. Safety Reps. are already well engaged. We will focus on the simple things that will make the difference to achieving improved safety performance and the vision.

Step Change is also aligned with the HSE on safety improvement strategies and understands their expectations. We will continue to drive the messages on personal responsibility via hazard and risk management. We do need to remember that although following the basic house rules of holding the handrail is important with respect to personal responsibility for safety, the asset integrity of our installations is paramount in preventing the major hazards such as the likes of the Piper Alpha.  Each of the three pillars - recognising hazards and reducing risk, personal responsibility for safety and asset integrity – are of equal importance, focusing on one without the others will undermine safety performance and put people at risk.

Furthermore, by engaging and aligning across industry and our workforce can we achieve the safety improvement imperative to our future success.  Good safety is good business!

I look forward to working with you over the next 2 years to achieve this!

Ian Aitchison
Support Team Leader

HSE has sponsored Hu-Tech Ergonomics to carry out a study on manual handling incidents offshore. Information from offshore manual handling incident reports has been analysed to establish the underlying causes and trends as well as the more obvious 'end point' causes. The objective is to contribute towards case study material aimed at preventing manual handling injuries.

The report can be downloaded from the HSE website at;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr500.pdf

Further information of interest to the Offshore OIl and Gas Industry can be found at;  http://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/information.htm

IADC Drilling HSE Middle East 2007 seeks to focus attention on health, safety, environment and training in drilling and completion operations. Papers and topics will be presented on ensuring and sustaining incident-free operations during drilling and completion, as well as competency, worker health and environmental stewardship. Sessions will emphasize areas of special interest in the Middle East, one of the world’s leading drilling and producing arenas.

“Creating and Sustaining Incident-free Workplaces” is the theme of IADC Drilling HSE Middle East 2007. Its mission is to:

        -Identify and advance best practices in drilling and completion HSE;
        -Share knowledge on solutions to HSE challenges in drilling and completions;
        -Develop strategies to improve HSE performance in drilling & completion operations.

For further information contact :- IADC The Netherlands, PO Box 1430, 6501 BC Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Phone + 31- 24-6752252, Fax: +31-24-3600759
anne.otten@iadc.org / peggy.kersten@iadc.org