Offshore Advisory Committee to hold open sessions in Aberdeen

HSE Press Release: E108:04 - 30 July 2004

Top industry experts will be answering offshore health and safety questions when the Health and Safety Commission's (HSC) Offshore Industry Advisory Committee (OIAC) holds its fifth annual open session in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire on 4 August 2004. The session is part of the Step Change in Safety Combined Networks meeting.

Stewart Campbell, the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Executive Director for Scotland, will host the session. It will feature presentations on:

• Progress made towards PILOT's (a joint Government/Industry initiative) vision to make the UK sector the safest place to work offshore by 2010, from Alison Goligher, current Chair of the Step Change in Safety Offshore Industry Initiative; and
  
• The importance of risk assessment in the offshore industry, from Rab Wilson of Amicus trades union.

A question and answer session will follow the presentations, giving anyone with an interest in offshore health and safety the chance to quiz both OIAC and senior HSE officials.

Stewart Campbell said: "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. Developing closer partnerships - working with others to improve health and safety - is a key part of HSC's strategy.

"OIAC is grateful to Step Change for this opportunity to address the networks it has set up. This will be the first time OIAC has been able to interact directly with such a large and knowledgeable audience to discuss health and safety in the UK offshore sector."

Notes to editors

1. The Offshore Industry Advisory Committee (OIAC) provides expert advice to the Health and Safety Commission (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 trades unions active in the North Sea. Further details about OIAC are available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/iacs/oiac/index.htm

2. OIAC's terms of reference include:

i. 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;

ii. To encourage the joint participation of representative organisations in actions to improve the industry's health and safety performance;

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

3. 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.

4. 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
• Rab Wilson: Amicus
• John Taylor: Transport and General Workers Union
• Steve Todd: National Union of Railway, Maritime & Transport Workers

Observers

• Larry Cairns: Policy Adviser/Co-ordinator, Offshore Health & Safety, Trades Union Congress
• Peter Carter: Department of Trade and Industry
• Cdr Robin Raphael: Marine Surveyor (Nautical), Maritime & Coastguard Agency

5. Step Change in Safety is an industry initiative aiming to deliver a major improvement in the industry's safety performance through cross-industry partnerships and the engagement and participation of all sectors of the industry. It has set up networks for elected safety reps, offshore installation managers and safety professionals amongst others, and is supported by the ten industry trade associations, the trade unions and COGENT, the industry's national training organisation. Step Change reports to PILOT.

6. PILOT, the joint Government/Industry initiative to improve competitiveness in the UK offshore oil and gas industry, is made up of senior government officials, Scottish Executive Ministers and industry leaders, and is chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry Energy Minister (currently Stephen Timms). PILOT aims to preserve the competitiveness of the UK Continental Shelf and maximise jobs, investment and commercial opportunities. In 2002 health and safety became one of PILOT's four priorities for the year and an additional target was added to its 2010 vision, to make the UK the safest place to work in the worldwide oil and gas industry.

7. HSC published its Strategy for workplace health and safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond on 23d February 2004. The strategy aims to promote a vision of health and safety as a cornerstone of a civilised society and to achieve a record of workplace health and safety that leads the world. The strategy is available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/strategiesandplans/strategy.htm

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