The leading representative body for the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry today announced an improving RIDDOR reportable hydrocarbon release trend with no majors recorded for the first time since 1996.
In its annual Health & Safety Report, OGUK highlighted a series of areas where promising health and safety improvements have been made. This included a 30% decrease in the number of reportable incidents, a decline in reportable injury rates offshore, and that for the fifth year running there were no work-related fatalities on offshore installations.
The report also highlights key areas for industry to focus on for the year to come, which include: hydrocarbon release prevention; major hazard management; addressing the maintenance backlog challenge; and ensuring the health and wellbeing of the offshore workforce is maintained.
The report finds:
- There were zero fatalities in 2020, for the fifth year running.
- There were no major hydrocarbon releases.
- Slips, trips and falls account for 26% of all injuries.
- Over 111,500 OGUK offshore medicals were conducted, with remotely conducted medicals occurring for the first time.
- The most common causes of failed medicals were blood pressure and diabetes.
- The number of significant HCR releases under RIDDOR has decreased by 25%, with no major HCR being reported for the first time since our records began.
- Safe helicopter operations were maintained despite CV19.
The report also acknowledges the vital work of the Pandemic Steering Group (PSG), formed in response to the operational challenges brought on by the pandemic and recognises the exceptional efforts made by the workforce during this period. The group, consisting of operators, contractors, unions, external agencies and other associations, has three specific aims: to ensure the health and safety of the workforce; to maintain the UK’s security of supply and to demonstrate an industry in control.
Commenting on the report, OGUK health, safety and environment director Trevor Stapleton said: “With the difficulties faced by our industry in 2020, this report shows that health and safety remain at the heart of everything we do.
“The findings of this report show an industry committed to high health and safety standards. While these figures are undoubtedly a success, we mustn’t become complacent in our journey to building a safer sector.
“As we move in 2022, the challenge to continuously improve our health and safety performance remains central to our industry.”
You can read the full report here.