HSE ISSUES WARNING ON SAFE WORKING PROCEDURES OFFSHORE

HSE press release: E168:03 - 28 August 2003

HSE today issued a warning to offshore duty holders that they must ensure they adequately implement and manage safe working procedures when undertaking isolations and invasive work offshore.

The warning follows the successful prosecution of BP Exploration Operating Company Limited who were last week fined a total of £50,000 and ordered to pay £33,000 costs at Kingston-upon-Hull Crown Court following an investigation into an uncontrolled release of gas on the Ravenspurn North (RN) offshore gas platform resulting in a serious injury to one person.

The company faced two charges, namely failing to comply with duties imposed by sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which relate to an employers duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety at work of his employees and persons not in his employment who may be affected by the way in which he conducts his undertaking.

The prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident, which took place on 24 June 2000, whilst a pressure safety valve (PSV) was being refitted following maintenance. In carrying out this task the injured man put his foot on the handle of an isolation valve, which had been left unsecured.

This caused the valve to open and the injured person was struck in the face by an uncontrolled release of gas, the force of which caused compressed hydrocarbons within the gas to lodge up to 1cm deep in his face, lip and right hand.

At the time of the incident he was working for Amec Process and Energy Limited (who provide labour and technical support for BP).

The gas cloud did not ignite, but had it done so, personnel in the vicinity of the release were at substantial risk of suffering burns. If the ignition had been explosive it is possible that fatalities may have occurred. According to records supplied by BP there were 47 people aboard the installation when the gas leak occurred.

Notes to editors

1. Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

2. Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not exposed to risks to heir health and safety."

3. BP Exploration Operating Co. Limited, the defendant, is a subsidiary of BP Amoco plc, an international petroleum and petrochemical group operating in more than 70 countries. The defendant is responsible for exploration activities within the UK Continental Shelf area and onshore in the UK.

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