OFFSHORE SAFETY

Offshore Safety



Offshore Safety

Introduction

Americans have been drilling for oil in shallow coastal waters for more than a century. In 1896, the first offshore oil drilling expedition began, just about one mile off the coast of Summerland, a tiny town in California's Santa Barbara County. The Summerland oil field would quickly develop into one of the most productive oil sources in the U.S. A little more than 50 years later, in 1947, oil production began in the Gulf of Mexico, when an oil-drilling rig opened off the coast of Louisiana. Within a few years, oil companies began moving rigs into shallow coastal waters in the gulf—especially the areas bordering Texas and Louisiana, where the richest oil deposits were found. Offshore drilling became a booming business in the U.S., and energy companies took full advantage of the newfound resources

Purpose of the study

The paper attempts to enlighten UK companies in reference to the importance for health and safety practices in the offshore drilling companies. The working methods within the companies are not appropriate or practised due to the high accident rate. The primary aim of such companies is the completion of the works at minimal costs and less concern to the safety of the employees.

Aims & objectives of the study

Establish the current rate of fatalities and major accidents in the UK offshore industry in reference to working at height.

Establish an overview of health and safety legislation and agendas in reference to working at height in the UK.

Evaluate the causes of the accidents whilst working at offshore plants.

Assess how the accident could have been avoided whilst working at offshore plants.

Evaluate the prospects for health and safety improvement in the UK construction industry in regards to working at offshore plants.

Discussion

The versatile machines provide a considerable contribution to any developed economy since the traditional vernacular skills of a labour-intensive workforce have largely been replaced in the pursuit of mechanical reliance. For many industrialists, increased mechanisation is perceived as the main instrument with which to augment and/or improve business efficiency and thus profitability. Indeed, when maintained and operated correctly, the financial gain to be made from plant utilisation is unquestionably considerable. However, a major barrier to realising these benefits is the cost of plant-related accidents both in terms of lost production and possible litigation in the event of personnel injury (or injury to others, for example, members of the public).

Rechenthin (2004) stated that from an international perspective, the offshore industries, in particular, has the dubious distinction of having the highest incident rate in respect of fatal accidents and serious injuries of all industries. Within the UK offshore industry, for example, accidents have been estimated to cost over $17 billion annually (Erikson, 1997, 29-33). Similarly, in the UK, accidents (across all industries) cost over £18bn every year (UK sterling, at June 2000) (Downie & Tannahill, 2005, 1-64 ). Astonishingly, accidents within industrialised nations are quoted as being responsible for more deaths than infectious diseases and more than any single illness except those attributed to heart or cancer ...