Mixed picture for offshore injuries in 2002/3

HSE Press Release E028:04 - 24 February 2004

The number of major injuries in the offshore oil and gas industry increased in 2002/3, and 'over three day' injuries declined, according to new figures published today by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The figures show there were 64 'major' injury incidents during 2002/3, an increase of 36% on 47 incidents reported during 2001/02. Consequently the combined fatal and major injury rate per 100,000 workers increased from 215.5 in 2001/2 to 287.5 in 2002/3, though there were no fatalities during the period. However, a steep downward trend continues in the number of 'over three day' injuries reported, with 118 incidents reported in 2002/3 and 187 during 2001/2.

The HSE offshore statistics report contains provisional injury and incident figures for the year 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003, plus confirmed data for 2001/2. The report expands on 'headline' figures posted on HSE's web site as Offshore Safety Statistics Bulletin 2002/3.

The Inland Revenue's annual population survey found the offshore workforce has decreased slightly from 23,206 in 2001/2 to 22,264 in 2002/3. The table below shows the provisional injury numbers and rates per 100,000 workers (in brackets) in 2002/3 for the three reporting categories. Confirmed 2000/1 and 2001/2 data are included for easy comparison.

The HSE report also shows that the number of dangerous occurrences fell slightly with 636 during 2002/3 compared with 652 in 2001/2. In addition there were 19 cases of work related diseases reported during 2002/3, an increase of six on the previous year.

Commenting on the new report, Taf Powell, head of HSE's offshore division, said: "This is a very mixed picture - on the one hand sustained downwards pressure on more minor injuries but on the other a stubbornly high rate of major injury accidents. I also must mention with sadness the three fatal accidents that have occurred so far this reporting year. All our sympathies must go out to the families of the men who died at work on the UK Continental Shelf in 2003.

"Major injuries are frequently associated with lifting incidents, either on decks or associated with drilling activity. My inspectors continue to give a high priority to tackling the causes of such incidents.

"The progressive decline in over three day reportable injuries, and dangerous occurrences (though at a lower rate), should encourage industry and the families of offshore workers that similar gains can be had in fatal and major injury accidents. All those with a responsibility for offshore safety must see this brought about."

Alison Goligher, Managing Director of Schlumberger Oilfield Services and chair of Step Change in Safety said: "It is heartening to see the continuing positive trend in improvements in hydrocarbon releases, dangerous occurrences and 3 day injury incidences. However, the three tragic fatalities, one on Ensco 85 in May 2003 and two on Brent Bravo in September 2003, remain a sobering wake up call for us all. Step Change remains committed to supporting industry to implement the wide range of best practices and guidelines already available as quickly and effectively as possible."

Graham Tran, Regional Officer of Amicus commented: "Whilst we welcome the improvements that have been made in the area of 'over three day' injuries, we are deeply concerned about the two other major areas - fatalities and major incidents. We know that there have been three fatalities since the end of the reporting period, one of which was in the drilling sector.

"It was noted with interest that at Offshore Europe 2003, Taf Powell stated that HSE were concerned about the back-log of maintenance. It is, therefore, disappointing that the industry appear not to have taken heed of Mr Powell's concerns. Today we still see a growing backlog of maintenance and a reduction in manpower. This trend has to be reversed if we are to meet the PILOT vision of 2010.

"The trade unions also support HSE in any initiatives to address the maintenance back-log and reduction in numbers."

Taf Powell concluded: "There is a lot of work to be done to achieve the industry aim of the UK becoming the safest offshore oil and gas sector in the world by 2010 but there are encouraging signs that it can be achieved.

"Yesterday HSC launched its revised strategy for improving health and safety at work in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond. The vision that underpins the strategy is to make health and safety a cornerstone of a civilised society.

"My Division's commitment to work in partnership with industry and the workforce to secure big improvements in safety performance and to secure for the UK a safe, efficient industry with a long term future is a practical demonstration of what HSC's revised strategy is intended to deliver in the changing world of work."

Notes to editors

1. This is the eleventh report in a series published by HSE's Offshore Division (OSD) since HSE became the safety regulator for the offshore oil and gas industry in April 1991. It is the seventh report produced since the introduction offshore of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR '95).
2. The report contains graphs plotting injury rates since 1993/94 and tables breaking down injuries by type; part of body injured; age of injured person, etc., plus cases of ill-health reported since 1996. Details of reported dangerous occurrences are also given.
3. The headline figures were previously published on 20 September 2003 in HSE's Offshore Safety Bulletin. Errors in the severity classification for the 2001/2 data were discovered which resulted in a reduction in the numbers of major injuries for 2001/2 and in an increase of major injuries for 2002/3. The Bulletin has since been revised. The main statistics report takes these adjustments into account and the confirmed figures for 2001/2 are therefore different from those shown in last year's HSR statistics report for 2002.
4. Step Change in Safety is a network of employer and workforce representatives set up in 1997. Further information including latest activities and initiatives can be found at http://www.stepchangeinsafety.net/
5. An over-three-day injury is one that is not major but results in the person being away from work or unable to do the full range of their normal duties for more than three days. A dangerous occurrence is something that does not result in a reportable injury, but which could have done.

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