New offshore statistics put major injuries and installation integrity in spotlight

HSE Press Release: E117:04 - 9 August 2004

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced today that it would be working even harder with the offshore industry following publication of provisional statistics confirming an unacceptable slow decline in fatal and major injury rates.

Announcing the release of the latest offshore safety statistics bulletin, Taf Powell, head of HSE's Offshore Division said: "Last year was a bad one for fatal accidents: three men were killed bringing the total number of work related deaths offshore to ten since 6 January 2000. Furthermore the combined rate of fatal and major incident accidents has declined by less than 10% in the past five years, and has been lower than today's results on two previous occasions over this period. This is unacceptable and I know the industry agrees."

HSE's Offshore Safety Statistics Bulletin 2003/04, shows 48 major injuries and 102 over three day injuries were reported to HSE in the year ending 31 March 2004, a decrease of 16 and 18 respectively on the previous year. The combined fatal and major injury rate decreased to 271.4 per 100,000 workers compared to 310.4 in the previous year and the over three day injury rate declined from 582 per 100,000 workers in 2002/03 to 542.8 in 2003/04. Additionally, 13 cases of ill health were reported, a decrease of six on the previous year.

Commenting on the low incidence of ill health cases reported Mr Powell said: "Under-reporting from the sector, non-reporting by individuals to their employers and contractors reporting from onshore offices could be some of the reasons behind these low figures. However, the information we receive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) is now supplemented by information in the offshore industry's own reporting scheme set up by Step Change in Safety. This gives further insight into work-related ill health in the sector, including matters not covered by RIDDOR."

Reported dangerous occurrences decreased during the reporting period, numbering 543 - 92 less than the previous year. However, early indications show that the decline in hydrocarbon releases (classified under dangerous occurrences) has been interrupted. Further details on hydrocarbon releases will be published later in the year.

Mr Powell added: "Oil and gas escapes are one of the strongest indicators of integrity of offshore installations and my inspectors are now working even harder with industry on a programme of work to restore the improvements in rates of hydrocarbon escapes we have seen in the previous few years.

"The rate of major injury accidents is in fact 25% lower than last year but because total numbers are low, longer term trends are a more statistically reliable guide to performance, which is why I have to draw attention to the fact that the long term rate of more serious accidents is both high, and flat. Encouragingly, the downward trend in over three day injuries continues to decline steeply, and dangerous incidents also continue to fall, but more gently.

"We are considering why, over the past five years there has been a continual change in the ratio of minor to serious accidents. A much bigger percentage of reported incidents are now fatal or major injuries than five years ago. This ratio change could be due to the changing nature of work offshore or a change in reporting standards - either way we need to fully understand the reasons behind it.

"HSE will be working with industry to answer these key questions and will report back before the end of the year. This industry has the capability and commitment to secure much greater improvements in incident rates, and it is in the economic interest of the industry, and Britain, that it succeeds."

Alison Goligher, Chair of the Step Change in Safety initiative said: "Clearly any fatality is unacceptable and it is only proper that the three fatalities from the reporting period dominate our concerns going forward. The PILOT vision is to have zero fatalities by 2010, but of course the only acceptable goal for all of us is zero fatalities every year as a matter of course. The reversal in the trend of major injuries is a positive outcome. However we have performed better in previous years and must really do significantly better in the years ahead.

"Slightly more promising is the continued improvement in the over three day injuries rate which continues to improve despite a small decrease decrease in the number of workers. Step Change is working to provide an increasingly positive environment for workers to openly report incidents offshore, and while there may remain a few areas still to reach acceptable levels, we must continue the momentum in this area to ensure that everyone feels comfortable to speak freely about their concerns.

"While statistics play an important role in helping us evaluate the results of our efforts over the last twelve months, every single one of these statistics hides a much more personal story. I would like to urge all of us in our industry to work diligently every day to keep each of us, and our friends and colleagues from ever becoming a statistic. Additional resources from the HSE to assist industry improve our performance across the board are very welcomed."

Graham Tran, Regional Officer of Amicus stated: "The statistics in relation to fatalities and major incidents/accidents are wholly unacceptable. It is important that the reasons behind these statistics are identified and addressed as a matter of urgency to ensure that there is no repetition. I therefore welcome the HSE's approach in putting in place a more rigorous programme of work to restore improvements throughout the sector. However, I would question if they have the resources to carry this out effectively. I along with my fellow trade union colleagues call upon the Government to release more funding to enable more HSE Inspectors to be deployed in the offshore sector. This I believe is crucial if we are to have an effective and efficient policing of the industry as a whole."

Mr Powell concluded: "HSE has been fairly upbeat in its assessment of a general improvement in health and safety in recent years and the potential to get better - this potential still exists. I base this on the apparent strong improvement in over three day and dangerous occurrences and the commitment of senior industry managers - with all the resources they command - to work in partnership with Government and worker representatives to make Britain the world's safest offshore sector by 2010."

The Offshore Safety Statistics Bulletin showing provisional safety figures for 2003/04 is published today at http://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/stat0304.htm (now unavailable - 16/8/2005)

Notes to editors

1. The Offshore Safety Statistics Bulletin is designed to show provisional headline figures before a more detailed statistical analysis is published later in the year. It records all incidences of fatalities, reportable injuries and occurrences of ill health reported to HSE between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004.

2. Step Change in Safety: http://www.stepchangeinsafety.net/ is a key industry initiative launched in September 1997 to improve health and safety performance, awareness and behaviours throughout the UK oil and gas industry. It is supported by all the sector's major trade associations, the trade unions, HSE and Cogent (the industry's Sector Skills Council).

3. 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.

4. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) came into force on 1 April 1996. RIDDOR requires injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to be reported to the HSE.

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