Research and consultancy from HSE can help you solve problems and reduce workplace harm.
We provide a platform to identify and co-fund applied research projects that are of interest to both industry and regulatory bodies.
How you can work with us
Contributing partners can help shape the research activity and get exclusive early sight of the results. This allows them to improve their management of emerging health and safety challenges , and be assured of alignment with HSE priorities.
Each research project begins with a recognised gap in knowledge that HSE and industry stakeholders see a need to fill.
We then invite regulatory, industry and other stakeholders to discuss the idea in more detail, and put together a research project that will help improve our collective understanding and knowledge. The project is led by HSE experts, often making use of the facilities provided by our Science and Research Centre in Buxton.
Industry and other stakeholders are then invited to contribute towards funding the research project. HSE also supports the projects financially. Typically, we will seek several sponsoring organisations to ensure we can undertake the best research to answer the health and safety needs we've all identified.
Our current research areas
Corrosion under insulation (CUI) – seeking sponsors
CUI is prevalent on plant both on and offshore, including nuclear and chemical plants, oil refineries and offshore installations.
Developments in coatings, insulation materials, cladding systems and installation practices have led to some improvements, but CUI’s unpredictability makes ongoing integrity management extremely challenging.
CUI continues to represent a major safety threat, having been responsible for a number of major hydrocarbon releases. It presents a range of business assurance/continuity challenges and significant costs each year.
This project considers CUI from a lifecycle perspective. Through an empirical work programme, the aim is to further develop our knowledge and understanding, resulting in safer, more reliable and efficient operations.
Offshore application of carbon fibre reinforced plastic engineered composite repairs (ECRs) – register interest
In 2020 a shared research project (ECR1) sponsored by HSE, operators and repair suppliers, was completed. It focused on a number of key areas such as quality assurance and integrity management, inspection, in-service performance, and human factors. This resulted in the release of an industry-leading good practice guide.
While ECR1 represented a significant step forward, both HSE and industry recognise that there are still knowledge gaps associated with the long-term integrity of composite repairs.
ECR2 will seek to build on the learnings of ECR1 through a detailed evaluation of recently decommissioned repairs from a safety-critical application.
Further work towards area classification for oil mists (MISTS2) – in progress
Mists of high-flashpoint fluids, such as hydraulic oils, lubricating oils, diesel and heavier fuels, can ignite and produce explosions at temperatures below their flashpoints.
There is a legal requirement to consider hazardous area classification for flammable mists. While area classification for explosive gases is well established, available guidance for flammable mists is limited, brief and largely qualitative when it comes to controls for such risks.
Following on from a successful joint research project on the formation and mitigation of flammable mists (MISTS1), this project seeks to further develop our knowledge and understanding of the formation and mitigation of flammable mists.
Get in touch
For more information or to make an enquiry about HSE’s research and consultancy services get in touch on GOV.UK.
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