All workers have a right to work in places where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. Health and safety is about stopping them getting hurt at work or ill through work.
The operator or owner of any offshore installation they work on, including their employer, are responsible for their health and safety. However, workers have responsibilities too. This page sets out the duties of those involved in the industry, depending on their role.
It also explains how the oil and gas industry is regulated and which legislation applies – including regulation of onshore unconventional oil and gas exploration (shale gas).
What operators or owners must do
If you are an operator or owner of an offshore installation, you must:
- prepare a safety case that demonstrates they have the ability and means to control major accident risks effectively and have it accepted by HSE
- consult the installation's safety representatives in the preparation, revision or review of the safety case
- operate the installation in compliance with the arrangements described in the current safety case
- implement effective measures to prevent uncontrolled releases of flammable or explosive substances
- maintain the integrity of the installation's structure, process plant, temporary refuge and all other equipment
- maintain the integrity of the wells and the pipelines throughout their lifecycle (this applies to well operators and pipeline operators)
- prepare a plan for dealing with an emergency should one occur
What employers must do
As an employer, you must:
- co-operate with the operator/owner of the installation, other employers and other people to ensure the health and safety of those on board the installation and those working in connection with it
- carry out an assessment of risks that operators are exposed to at work and implement control measures
- provide workers with any health and safety training they need during their working time, free of charge. If it is necessary to arrange training outside their normal hours, this should be treated as an extension of time at work
- provide insurance that covers workers in case they get hurt at work or become ill through work
What workers must do
If you are a worker you must:
- co-operate with the offshore installation manager and others to ensure the health and safety of those on board the installation and those working in connection with it
- follow the information, instruction and training you have received for working offshore and responding to an emergency should one occur
- take reasonable care of your own and other people's health and safety
- tell your employer, supervisor or safety representative if you think the work or inadequate precautions are putting anyone's health and safety at serious risk
If you have health and safety concerns
If you are worried about health and safety in your workplace:
- talk to your employer, supervisor or health and safety representative. If you are still dissatisfied, you should raise the matter directly with the offshore installation manager
- look at our website for general information about health and safety at work and particular information about offshore safety
If, after telling someone, you are still concerned, you can phone HSE's Energy Division (0300 0031647 between 8.30 and 17.00 Monday to Friday). You do not have to give your name.
Outside office hours, in exceptional circumstances, you can phone 0151 922 9235.
Regulating the oil and gas industry
HSE is responsible for regulating the risks to health and safety arising from work activities in the offshore industry on the UK Continental Shelf.
The Offshore Directive
The European Commission’s Offshore Directive of 2013 aimed to reduce, as far as possible, the occurrence of major accidents related to offshore oil and gas operations and to limit their consequences.
HSE implemented the majority of the health and safety requirements in the Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc) Regulations (OSDR).
The then Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) also introduced new regulations to implement environmental and licensing requirements.
How HSE ensures risks are controlled
To ensure workplace risks are properly controlled, we:
- inspect offshore operators
- investigate accidents and incidents
- assess safety cases
- enforce
- advise, guide and inform
- do research and develop policy
- influence technical standards
The Offshore Major Accident Regulator (OMAR) is the Competent Authority responsible for regulating offshore major hazards. OMAR is a partnership between HSE and the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning.
HSE’s fire and explosion strategy
You can find details of HSE’s offshore fire and explosion strategy.
Legislation for offshore oil and gas
Along with general health and safety law, HSE uses the following main legislation to regulate the offshore oil and gas industry:
- Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc) Regulations 2015 (OSDR)
- Health and Safety at Work Act (Application outside Great Britain) Order). There is guidance on the Application of health and safety law offshore
- The Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations
- Diving at Work Regulations (commercial diving projects offshore)
- Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction etc) Regulations
- Pipelines Safety Regulations
- Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations
- Offshore installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations
- Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations
- Offshore Safety (Repeals and Modifications) Regulations
- Offshore Safety Act
- Offshore Installations (Safety Representatives and Safety Committees) Regulations
- Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First-Aid) Regulations
Regulation of onshore shale gas exploration
Shale gas is extracted from rock using a technique called hydraulic fracturing (known as 'fracking'), which is also used for coal bed methanes and in other more conventional oil and gas wells.
The Environment Agency in England and Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency are the regulators who monitor environmental aspects of shale gas fracking. The Environmental Permitting Regulations govern how fracking operators comply with environmental laws.
HSE monitors shale gas operations from a well integrity and site safety perspective. We ensure safe working practices are adopted by onshore operators as required under the Health and Safety at Work Act, and regulations made under the Act:
- the Borehole Site and Operations Regulations 1995 apply to shale gas operations (primarily concerning the health and safety management of the site)
- the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction etc) Regulations apply to all wells drilled with a view to extracting petroleum whether they are onshore or offshore (primarily concerning well integrity)
HSE works closely with the Environment Agency and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to share relevant information on such activities and to ensure there are no material gaps between the safety, environmental protection and planning authorisation considerations, and that all material concerns are addressed.
The Environment Agency and HSE have a Working together agreement on regulating unconventional oil and gas developments that explains the joint approach.
The Shale Environmental Regulator Group (SERG) coordinates the regulation of shale gas well sites. It brings together the regulatory activity of:
- the Environment Agency
- HSE
- the Oil and Gas Authority
You can:
- contact the Shale Environmental Regulator Group
- find out how shale gas exploration and production are jointly regulated in the working together agreement of the shale regulator group
Planning authorities have an important role in how shale gas operations develop. Our guide to the health and safety regulatory regime will help those involved in deciding planning applications understand the process and the role of HSE.
Find out more
HSE has more details in its website on shale gas and its regulation.
You can also find more information on the DECC website.