HC Deb 29 July 1988 vol 138 cc663-4W
Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the definition of serious injury used in the reporting of offshore accidents;

(2) what changes in the definition of serious injury used in the reporting of offshore accidents have been made in the last 10 years;

(3) what changes in the definition of offshore worker used in the reporting of offshore accidents has been made in the last 10 years; and what is the current definition;

(4) what changes in the definition of offshore accidents have been made in the last 10 years; and what is the current definition.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The Offshore Installations (Inspectors and Casualties) Regulations 1973 (SI 1973/1842) require owners of offshore installations to notify me of all casualties or other accidents involving loss of life or danger to life in respect of all persons on offshore installations or attendant vessels, whether or not those persons are working. There are no definitions of 'serious injury', 'offshore worker' or 'offshore accident' in the regulations but owners have been informed that serious injury includes:

  1. (a) Fracture of skull, spine, pelvis, arm, forearm, thigh or leg.
  2. (b) Dislocation of shoulders, elbow, hip, knee or spine.
  3. (c) Amputation of hand or foot, or substantial part of hand or foot.
  4. (d) Loss of sight of an eye.
  5. (e) Other serious bodily injuries, eg. internal haemorrhage, burns asphyxia, bends, or other injury likely to endanger life, cause permanent incapacity for work or substantially impair efficiency.
    6. 664
  6. (f) Any person who suffers such an electric shock or burn, by coming into contact with any conductor in a circuit in which the voltage for the time being exceeds 25, that he requires first aid or medical treatment.
  7. (g) Undue exposure of any person to doses of radiation from radio active materials.

These criteria have not been altered during the past 10 years.

Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation to extend the provisions of the Building (Scotland) Acts to offshore oil and gas installations.

Mr. Peter Morrison

No. The Offshore Installations (Construction and Survey) Regulations 1974 (SI 1974/ 289), supported by the guidance notes on design and construction for offshore installations, issued by my Department, set down specific requirements for the design and construction of offshore installations.

Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation to extend the provisions of the Fire Precautions Acts to offshore oil and gas installations.

Mr. Peter Morrison

No. There are specific requirements for the provision of fire and gas detection systems and for fire-fighting equipment on offshore installations in the Offshore Installations (Fire-Fighting Equipment) Regulations 1978 (SI 1978/611).

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the prosecutions in date order brought since 1977 regarding North sea offshore safety requirements; which company or person was prosecuted in each case; what was the exact charge brought in each case; and what was the penalty imposed in each case.

Mr. Peter Morrison

[holding answer 25 July 1988]: A register of convictions of companies under the provisions of the relevant offshore safety legislation is being assembled in my Department and will be available for inspection by members of the public on appointment from 15 August. If the hon. Member wishes, I shall make arrangements for him to come and inspect it.