Offshore safety statistics bulletin 2009/10

Fatal and major injuries to offshore workers

Figure 1:   Fatal and Major Injuries (1997/1998 – 2009/2010p)

Figure 2: Combined Fatal and Major Injury Rate (1997/1998 – 2009/10p)

Based on provisional figures for 2009/10:

• There were no reportable fatalities in 2009/10, compared with none during the previous two years.
• There were 50 major injuries reported during the period, a rise of twenty compared to 2008/09 (a particularly low year) and compares to an average of 42 major injuries over each of the previous five years.
• There were an estimated 26,598 offshore workers in 2009/10, a fall of 5.76% on the 2008/09 estimate of 28,224 workers. These figures were obtained from an industry-based data source¹.
• The combined fatal and major injury rate rose to 187.0 per 100,000 workers in 2009/10 compared to 106.3 in 2008/9 and 156.4 in 2007/08 and reverses the generally downward trend since 2002/03. The five-year average prior to 09/10 is 177.4 

Types of accident               

Based on provisional figures for 2009/2010:

• The main causes of major injuries were related to slips/trips/falls (26), being trapped or struck by moving objects (11), or injuries associated with lifts/pulls/pushes/handling of loads (5), accounting for 83% of the total;
• 11 major injuries were to the lower limb/foot/ankle and 26 to the upper limb²
• 27 major injuries (54%) were due to fracture³.

Over-3-day injuries to offshore workers

Figure 3: Over 3-Day Injuries (1997/1998 – 2009/2010p)

Figure 4: Over 3-Day Injury Rate (1997/1998 – 2009/2010p)

• The number of reported over-3-day injuries has reduced this year by 30 to 110 (21.4% fall) and continues the downward trend since 2006/07.
• Based on the workforce figure of 26,598 workers, the over-3-day injury rate per 100,000 workers (413.6) for 2009/10 shows a 16.6% fall on that recorded for 2008/09 (496) and is a new low.

Types of accident               

Based on provisional figures for 2009/2010:

• Slips, trips and falls, accounted for approx. 28% of over-3-day injuries whilst injuries related to striking or being struck or trapped account for 40%.  Lifting operations, handling of plant, push/pull activities and injuries from body movements  accounted for approx.25%;
• 55 over-3-day injuries (50%) resulted in injury to the upper limb⁴;
• 29% of injuries were to parts of the foot and lower limbs and 15% to the back, neck and torso area.

Incidences of ill-health to workers offshore

• The total number of cases of offshore ill health reported was 13, a decrease of 8 on the previous year.
• The diseases reported were chickenpox with 5 incidents (down 2 on last year) and 1 case of mumps.  Occupational health conditions included 4 cases of hand-arm vibration and 1 case each of decompression, barotrauma.  There was 1 case of legionella.

Dangerous occurrences offshore

Figure 5: Dangerous Occurrences (1997/1998 – 2009/2010p)

Based on provisional figures for 2009/2010:

• 443 dangerous occurrences (including well incidents) were reported.
• Main types of dangerous occurrences reported were hydrocarbon releases (42.1%), fail equipment offshore (23.4%) well-related incidents (6.3%) and lifting operations related (8.6%).

Hydrocarbon Releases (HCRs)⁵

Figure 6: Offshore hydrocarbon releases

Based on provisional figures for 2009/10:

(Supplementary data on hydrocarbon releases reported under RIDDOR are voluntarily reported to HSE by operators on Form OIR/12.  Figure 6 is based upon those HCRs for which Form OIR/12 have been processed. Final figures may be subject to variation depending on when OIR/12 returns are made to HSE)

• There was a significant increase in the total number of Major and Significant HCRs (85) in 2009/10 compared to the previous year's total of 61. This compares to an annual average of 73 over the previous five years.
• The number of minor HCRs rose slightly in 2009/10 (100) compared to 2008/09 (96).
• Overall the total number of releases rose by 26 in 2009/10.

Notes

This bulletin provides provisional data for 2009/10. A further breakdown of the headline figures contained in this Bulletin will be provided later this year in the annual Offshore Injury and Incident Statistics Report, produced as part of the HID Statistics Report (HSR) series of publications.

Interpretation of trends over a short period of time should be treated with caution, particularly when addressing small data populations.

Whilst incidents occurring in marine and transport activities are not regulated by HSE, but may be related to the offshore oil and gas industry operations, it is noted that on 1 April 2009, a helicopter flight returning from the Miller platform to Aberdeen ditched in the sea with the loss of 2 crew and 14 offshore workers.  Also one worker was killed in a lifting related incident on a diving support vessel when in transit.

1. Provisional data extracted from Vantage system via StepChange in Safety.Back to reference of footnote 1
2. Upper limb includes finger/thumbs, hand, wrist and rest of upper limb.Back to reference of footnote 2
3. Fractures to fingers, thumbs or toes are classed as over-3-day injuries and not as major injuries unless hospitalised over 24 hrs.Back to reference of footnote 3
4. Upper limb includes finger/thumbs, hand, wrist and rest of upper limb.Back to reference of footnote 4
5. Major, Significant and Minor Release Severity Classifications are described on the HSE Website in the Hydrocarbons Release Database HELP facility.Back to reference of footnote 5