Revised guidance for the Offshore Industry

HSE Press Release E189:02 - 7 October 2002

New guidance to explain the amended Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995 (MAR) has been unveiled today by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The guidance is a simple explanation of the main provisions of the regulations, which were amended last month, and is aimed at installation operators, installation owners, employers, managers, safety representatives, safety committee members and others involved with offshore activities.

The guidance has been revised to include the new definition of an offshore installation. With new developments in technology, the definition of an offshore installation has been extended to include supplementary units. Such units provide power and other support facilities for offshore installations and can be powered by wind, waves or by conventional means.

The revised guidance also includes a number of clarifications made since it was first published in 1995. In particular, advice is given on the conditions under which a well service vessel (WSV) is regarded as an offshore installation and becomes subject to the regulations.

Clarification is also given on the status of specialist support vessels that provide accommodation.

The Offshore Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002, which amend MAR, came into force on 17 September. They ensure that offshore health and safety law is appropriately applied and that the definitions of an offshore installation are consistent.

Notes to editors

1. A guide to the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995, ISBN 0 7176 2572 9 is available, priced £10.50, online at: http://books.hse.gov.uk

2. The guidance reflects the changes to MAR by the Offshore Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (SI 2002/2175) that came into force on 17 September. The Regulations brought MAR in line with the changes implemented by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (Application Outside Great Britain) Order 2001 (the Order). The Order extended the definition of 'offshore installation' to include supplementary units. When a supplementary unit is attached to a well it becomes part of any offshore installation to which the well is linked. Supplementary units may be powered conventionally or by wind, wave, tide or current and provide power, control, communications and chemical injection facilities to offshore installations.

3. The Offshore Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002(SI 2002/2175) are available online at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2175/contents/made

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