Tuesday 19 December 2000

UKOOA Statement in response to HSE Statistics on Hydrocarbon Releases

The UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) shares the Health and Safety Executives concern at the number of accidental hydrocarbon releases on offshore oil and gas installations.

The industry has invested billions of pounds to protect workers in the event of such leaks. Better-designed temporary refuges have been introduced, improved explosion management and fire-fighting systems have also been deployed.

However, efforts to reduce the frequency of releases, which include the introduction of competency assessments, revised permit to work systems and improved maintenance strategies, have not had the impact that was hoped for.

Any accidental release on an offshore installation is of concern, no matter what size. The Industry is therefore working with the HSE to address the issue specifically.

Over 100 industry experts recently attended a workshop on the subject organised jointly by the HSE and UKOOA and more are planned in the New Year. Individual members are also pursuing their own campaigns to drive down the number of accidental releases.

The aim is to identify and address the underlying causes of leaks and in so doing achieve the reductions the HSE has quite rightly challenged the industry to deliver.

For more information, please call 020 7802 2400.