HC Deb 24 March 1999 vol 328 cc245-6W
Mr. Hepburn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage the offshore industry work force to become involved in safety matters. [77940]

Mr. Meale

The promotion of work force involvement is one of the Health and Safety Commission's/Executive's key priorities. As elsewhere, the involvement of the workforce offshore is critical in maintaining and improving safety standards.

The Offshore Installations (Safety Representatives and Safety Committees) Regulations 1989 specify the powers and functions of work force safety representatives, and set out requirements for their election. Installation managers are required to consult safety representatives, to provide them with information and to ensure that they receive adequate training.

HSE's offshore inspectors routinely meet safety representatives when they visit installations and encourage their involvement in safety matters.

Employers and employees are represented on the Health and Safety Commission Oil Industry Advisory Committee. The Committee has produced an award-winning booklet on work force involvement in health and safety, entitled "Play Your Part". This draws on examples of good practice from across the offshore industry. The Committee has also set up a working group to consider the offshore health and safety agenda for the next ten years. One of the issues which it will discuss is the promotion of greater work force involvement.

Mr. Hepburn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implementation by offshore operators of the recommendations of the Cullen Inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster. [77941]

Mr. Meale

On the recommendation of Lord Cullen, responsibility for offshore health, safety and welfare regulation was transferred in 1991 from the former Department of Energy to the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSC carried out a fundamental review of arrangements in the light of the 106 recommendations made by Lord Cullen. Action on most of these fell to the regulator and all were implemented in full.

Mr. Hepburn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) deaths at work and (b) serious injuries were recorded for the United Kingdom oil and gas extraction industry in each of the years 1978 to date, excluding the deaths as a result of the Piper Alpha disaster. [77978]

Mr. Meale

Figures for the United Kingdom are not readily available. Figures for the oil and gas extraction industry before 1986–87 are not available. The figures for the industry in Great Britain from 1986–87 are shown in the table.

Fatal and major/serious injuries in the oil and gas extraction industry in Great Britain—as reported to all enforcing authorities
Year Fatal Major Total
1986–871 4 92 96
1987–88 9 75 84
1988–892 5 64 69
1989–90 2 75 77
1990–91 12 95 107
1991–923 13 88 101
1992–93 5 82 87
1993–94 1 58 59
1994–95 1 42 43
1995–96 5 45 50
1996–974 2 529 31
1997–986 3 41 44
1 Injuries reported between 1986–87 and 1995–96 were reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1985 (for onshore injuries) and separate legislation for offshore injuries.
2 Excludes 167 Piper Alpha fatalities.
3 Includes Cormorant Alpha helicopter accident.
4 Injuries reported from 1996–97 were reported under RIDDOR 1995. Data for 1996–97 are not comparable with previous years due to the introduction of RIDDOR 1995.
5 Based on information collated in 1998 and published in the Health and Safety Commission's Annual Report for 1997–98, and its 'Health and Safety Statistics 1997–98'. Subsequent information indicates that the reported figure may be 49 and the total 51.
6 Provisional.