Offshore safety statistics bulletin 2008/9

Fatal and major injuries to offshore workers

Figure 1: Fatal and major jnjuries
1997/1998 - 2008/2009p

Figure 2: Combined fatal and major injury rate
1997/1998 - 2008/09p

Based on provisional figures for 2008/09:

• As for 2007/08, there were no fatalities in 2008/09, compared with two in 2006/07 and 2005/06.
• There were 30 major injuries reported during the period, a fall of fourteen compared to 2007/08;
• There was an estimated 28,224 offshore workers in 2008/09, an increase of 0.33% on the 2007/08 estimate of 28132 workers. These figures were obtained from an industry-based data source1.
• The combined fatal and major injury rate reduced to 106.29 per 100,000 workers in 2008/09 compared to 156.41 in 2007/8 and 145.51 in 2006/07.

Types of accident

Based on provisional figures for 2008/2009:

• The main causes of major injuries were related to slips/trips/falls (12), being trapped, struck by moving objects (10), or injuries associated with lifts/pulls/pushes/swinging of loads (4), accounting for 87% of the total;
• 15 major injuries were to the lower limb/foot/ankle and 10 to the upper limb2
• 20 major injuries (67%) were due to fracture.3

Over- 3-day injuries to offshore workers

Figure 3: Over 3-day injuries
1997/1998 - 2008/2009p

Figure 4: Over 3-day injury rate
1997/1998 - 2008/2009p

• The number of reported over-3-day injuries has reduced this year by 8 to 140 (5.4% fall)
• Based on the workforce figure of 28,224 workers, the over-3-day injury rate per 100,000 workers (496) for 2008/09 shows an 5.7% fall on that recorded for 2007/08 (526.1) and is a new low.

Types of accident 

Based on provisional figures for 2008/2009:

• Slips, trips and falls, accounted for approx. 31% of over-3-day injuries whilst injuries related to striking or being struck or trapped account for 26%.  Lifting operations, handling of plant, push/pull activities and injuries from body movements  accounted for approx.36%;
• 58 over-3-day injuries (41%) resulted in injury to the upper limb4;
• 26% of injuries were to parts of the foot and lower limbs and over 19% to the back and torso area.

Incidence of ill health to workers offshore

• The total number of cases of offshore ill health reported was 21, an increase of 15 on the previous year.
• The main disease reported was chickenpox with 7 incidents (up 3 on last year). Occupational health conditions included 4 cases of hand-arm vibration and 3 cases of occupational dermatitis.

Dangerous Occurrences offshore

Figure 4: Over 3-day injury rate
1997/1998 - 2008/2009p

Based on provisional figures for 2008/2009:

• 478 dangerous occurrences (including well incidents) were reported.
• Main types of dangerous occurrences reported were Hydrocarbon releases (33%), fail equipment offshore (28%) fail well (9.4%) and lift related (8.4%).

Hydrocarbon Releases (HCRs)5

Figure 6: Offshore hydrocarbon releases

Based on provisional figures for 2008/09:

(Supplementary data on hydrocarbon releases reported under RIDDOR are voluntarily reported to HSE by operators on Form OIR/12. Figure 6 is based upon those HCRs for which Form OIR/12 have been processed. Final figures may be subject to variation depending on when OIR/12 returns are made to HSE)

• There was a significant reduction in the total number of Major and Significant HCRs (61) in 2008/09 compared to the previous year’s total of 74.
• Major HCRs reduced in 2008/09 to 1 the lowest on record.
• The number of minor HCRs declined in 2008/09 (96) compared to 2007/08 (114).
• Overall the total number of releases fell in 2008/09 to the lowest number recorded (157).

A further breakdown of the headline figures contained in this Bulletin will be provided later this year in the annual Offshore Injury and Incident Statistics Report, produced as part of the HID Statistics Report (HSR) series of publications.

1  Provisional data extracted from Vantage system via StepChange in Safety.
2  Upper limb includes finger/thumbs, hand, wrist and rest of upper limb.
3  Fractures to fingers, thumbs or toes are classed as over-3-day injuries and not as major injuries unless hospitalised over 24 hrs.
4  Upper limb includes finger/thumbs, hand, wrist and rest of upper limb.
5  Major, Significant and Minor Release Severity Classifications are described on the HSE Website in the Hydrocarbons Release Database HELP facility