OFFSHORE INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE HOLDS OPEN SESSION IN ABERDEEN

HSC press release C042:03 - 22 August 2003

Top industry experts will be on hand to answer offshore health and safety questions, when the Health and Safety Commission's (HSC) Offshore Industry Advisory Committee (OIAC) holds its fourth open session for the public at this year's Offshore Europe event.

The session will feature presentations on:

• The impact of HSC's Revitalising Health and Safety programme offshore;
• How the Step Change in Safety programme plans to meet its targets to eliminate fatal incidents and drive down injuries and ill health offshore; and how the industry is working to reduce the risk of major incidents, including reducing hydrocarbon leaks and;
• How to meet the challenge of improving workforce involvement in offshore health and safety.

Nick Starling, Chair of the Committee, said: "We are extremely pleased to be returning for our third visit to Aberdeen. Our previous visits were both successful and well attended. I am sure that this year's event will be even better. We are grateful to the Offshore Europe organisers for the exciting opportunity to host this session as part of the 'Safety Day'. I hope it will attract a wide audience from members of the workforce, safety representatives, managers, health and safety professionals and members of the public visiting Offshore Europe.

"This is a challenging time for the industry with new companies moving into the UK sector. Now more than ever we need to build partnerships with all those within the industry who can help to improve health and safety standards."

Notes to editors

1. The session will take place on Thursday, 4 September at 5.45pm in Gordon Room B at Offshore Europe, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Ellon Road, Bridge of Don, AB23 8BL.

2. OIAC provides expert advice to HSC on health and safety issues affecting Britain's offshore oil and gas industry. The Committee is made up of representatives of the main employers' associations and trade unions active in the North Sea.

3. The Government and HSC launched the Revitalising Health and Safety strategy document on 7 June 2000. The ten-point strategy, supported by a 44-point action plan, announced targets for reducing work-related deaths, ill-health and injury in Britain over the next 10 years.

4. OIAC's terms of reference include:

To monitor progress by the offshore oil and gas industry towards meeting its targets for improving standards of occupational health and safety and for the control of major hazards;

Encourage the joint participation of representative organisations in actions to improve the industry's health and safety performance and;

To advise the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and, where appropriate, the HSC on other matters referred to them by the Executive or the Commission.

5. This open session is part of the Government's QUANGOS - Opening the Doors initiative, which is designed to open up the work of public bodies as part of the drive towards greater open Government.

6. Current OIAC membership is as follows:-

Chair:

Nick Starling: HSE

Employer Representatives

Bob Kyle: United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association
Edmund J N Brookes: British Rig Owners Association
Philip Ley: Offshore Contractors Association
Dominic Cattini: International Association of Drilling Contractors
Jane Bugler: International Marine Contractors Association

Kenny Inkster: Wells Services Contractors Association

Employee Representatives

Allan Graveson: National Union of Marine, Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers
Fraser Adam: General and Municipal Boilermakers Union
John Taylor: Transport and General Workers' Union
Steve Todd: National Union of Railway, Maritime & Transport Workers

Observers

Larry Cairns: Policy Advisor/Co-ordinator, Offshore Health and Safety, Trades Union Congress
Peter Carter: Department of Trade and Industry

Cdr Robin Raphael: Marine Surveyor (Nautical), Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office