Safety statistics show fall in leaks and injuries offshore

Date:

19 July 2011

The number of offshore oil and gas leaks that could potentially lead to a major incident has fallen, according to new safety statistics released today (Tuesday 19 July)

Figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that there were 73 major or significant hydrocarbon releases associated with offshore installations in 2010/11, compared with 85 the previous year. There were 61 recorded in 2008/09 - the lowest since HSE began regulating the industry. Overall, there continues to be a downward trend in the total of all reported hydrocarbon releases offshore.

For the fourth year running, no workers were killed during offshore activities regulated by HSE and 2010/11 also saw a fall in the number of major injuries. There were 42 reported compared with 50 the previous year, bringing the total in line with the average of the previous five years.

The combined fatal and major injury rate fell to 151.8 per 100,000 workers in 2010/11, compared with 188 in 2009/10. There was also a continued fall in the number of minor injuries that led to three or more days off work, with 106 - down from last year's 110 - which represents a new low in the over three-day injury rate.

There were 432 dangerous occurrences reported in 2010/11, 11 fewer than the previous year. More than a third were hydrocarbon releases (38.9%) and just over a quarter (25.9%) related to equipment failures.

Said Steve Walker HSE's head of offshore safety:

"This year's statistics are a step in the right direction. It is encouraging that this is the fourth consecutive year with no reportable fatalities and a reduction in major injuries. But there is still much work to be done. Hydrocarbon releases are a key indicator of how well the offshore industry is managing its major accident risks, and the industry still hasn't matched or exceeded the record lows of two years ago.

"I welcome the industry's recent Step Change target of halving the number of hydrocarbon releases over three years. However, although there has been a reduction in oil and gas leaks, the industry needs to pick up the pace of improvement if it is to meet its own target. I expect all operators to be drawing up and implementing plans to achieve that goal.

"The Gulf of Mexico disaster should continue to be a stark reminder of what can go wrong offshore. HSE will remain tough on companies that fail to protect their workforce by not investing in the fabric and workings of their installations or neglecting to implement effective management systems or workforce training."

Notes to editors

1. The Offshore Safety Statistics Bulletin is designed to show provisional headline figures before a more detailed statistical analysis is published in December. It records fatalities, reportable injuries, occurrence of ill health and dangerous occurrences reported to HSE between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) http://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/stat1011.htm
2. Though related to the offshore oil and gas industry, incidents occurring in marine and transport activities are not regulated by HSE.
3. Though outside of the scope of the 2010/11 statistics, an investigation into the death of an offshore worker on 16 June 2011 is ongoing.
4. Hydrocarbon releases are RIDDOR reportable dangerous occurrences (RIDDOR Schedule 2, paragraph 73) occurring on an installation that take the form of unintended petroleum hydrocarbon releases from within the contained process operating system that cause fire or explosion, or require action to prevent or limit the consequences of a potential fire or explosion, or have the potential to cause death or major injury. Liquid releases do not necessarily result in a spill to sea and frequently are contained entirely or partially within the installation.
5. Headline statistics, based on provisional figures for 2010/11, show that:
   • the main causes of major injuries were related to slips/trips/falls (16), being trapped or struck by moving objects (15), or injuries associated with lifts/pulls/pushes/swinging of loads (4), accounting for 83% of the total;
   • 14 major injuries were to the foot, ankle or lower limb and 19 major injuries were to the upper limb. Upper limb includes finger/thumbs, hand, wrist and rest of upper limb.
   • 27 (64%) major injuries were due to fracture. Fractures to fingers, thumbs or toes are normally classed as over-3-day injuries and not as major injuries.
   • The number of reported over-3-day injuries has reduced this year by 4 to 106 (3.6% fall) and continues the downward trend since 2006/07.
6. For more information on the ageing installations inspection programme (KP4) visit: www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/hse-offshoreinspection.htm
7. For the first time the Bulletin includes voluntary industry data provided by Oil & Gas UK on two additional cross-industry key performance indicators (KPIs) which track industry performance in key areas of major hazard prevention.

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