Workforce involvement

Quality worker involvement and consultation on health and safety matters is of key importance.

HSE has recently undertaken an inspection programme to check industry compliance with the provision of the SI971 Offshore Installations Safety representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1989. The SI971 Regulations give certain regulatory powers to safety representatives. While there is no duty on Safety Representatives to use the powers bestowed on them, the powers are there to ensure they can play a full and proper role in the  safety of installations.

The results of the programme were encouraging, with the project having a positive effect within the UK offshore industry, heightening the focus on the role of elected safety representatives and committees. The majority of inspections confirmed general compliance with the regulations and the project was successful in identifying and gaining improvements in a number of areas. HSE also identified numerous examples of innovative practices. I encourage you to read the findings of the SI971 report.

As with the previous workforce survey the SI971 inspection programme does identify that there is real benefit to be gained in workforce involvement. For my part I will continue to find ways to improve ease of access to information and guidance for the workforce on the website and will be interested to hear any comments that are posted. In addition, I will also ensure that information on workforce involvement issues is regularly reported in our publication Tea-Shack News which I would encourage all offshore workers to read.

By chairing such forums as the OIAC Workforce Involvement Group, holding regular workforce involvement events and in our routine contacts with you during inspections offshore I aim to ensure we play our part. But ultimately it is you who are in direct contact with work hazards and have a key role to play in identifying and controlling them, and I would strongly urge you to also Play Your Part.

Steve Walker
Head of OSD and Chair of OIAC