HSE's Shared Research Programme

Over the past few years, shift rotas have changed significantly on the UK Continental Shelf and there is now more variation than ever in shift patterns and working arrangements.

However, the health and safety effects of longer offshore tours of duty have received very little attention or research. Given current industry shift pattern trends, there is a pressing need to address these gaps and develop an evidence base for further industry guidance.

In October 2019, HSE held a workshop in Aberdeen to discuss the options for shared research regarding optimising offshore working patterns.

Following this workshop, a programme of work has been developed that seeks to improve our understanding of the impact of different types of offshore working patterns on fatigue and associated health and safety performance by establishing a body of evidence relating to shift design, intershift recovery and fatigue risk management practices. Funding partners for this programme of work are currently being sought.

Visual inspection of tanks, vessels and pipework is a cornerstone of the examination process and is often the primary means of defect detection, sizing and diagnosis. Technology now makes replacing the direct human element of visual inspection possible, and remote visual imaging could be used to undertake these parts of the examination process. This is of particular interest in the high hazard industries, where intrusive human intervention, for example vessel entry, could be reduced.

The limitations of the technology have yet to be fully explored, and no meaningful comparison has yet been made with the established standards for visual inspection. Numerous variables and the impact they may have on defect and corrosion diagnosis, and hence integrity, have yet to be considered.

There is growing evidence that wearable devices, equipped with positioning technologies coupled with sensors, may benefit health and safety in the workplace. The advancement of the Internet of Things has meant that many of these technologies are commonplace in helping improve workplace productivity.

Following an industry workshop, a programme of work has been developed which will endeavour to validate the use of the technologies for workplace health and safety and to help find solutions to the key issues and barriers to effective adoption of wearables in the workplace. Further funding partners for this programme of work are currently being sought.

Corroded bolted flanged joints are widespread on the UKCS and establishing their condition and ongoing integrity is important for safe and reliable operations.

A shared research project is proposed, consisting of a series of distinct but interrelated work packages to provide an evidence base to underpin integrity decisions. Benefits are expected to be safer, more reliable, efficient operations.

Knowledge of flammable mists is still relatively limited in comparison to flammable gases. Following an initial phase of work, HSE would like to invite stakeholders to a workshop in early 2017 to discuss a potential HSE Shared Research Project to address some of the most important outstanding issues on this topic.

Further sponsors are currently being sought for a shared research project aimed at improving customer experience and safety when using escalators. Whilst most customer journeys involving escalators happen without incident, there are a number of fatal accidents known to have occurred in retail premises in recent years, and many more with less severe consequences. Whilst there is a body of evidence published on safe and reliable user interaction with stairs, equivalent evidence is not available for escalators.