HC Deb 25 October 1990 vol 178 cc272-3W
Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the number of industrial serious occurrences and lost time incidents in the east Shetland basin for each month in the current year up to and including September.

Mr. Moynihan

Provisional figures for accidents on or near to offshore installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf reported to my Department in the cur rent year to September are as follows:

Fatalities Serious accidents Dangerous occurrences
January — 6 37
February — 8 32
March 1 6 39
April — 6 38
May — 5 30
June — 5 26
July 17 5 36
August 1 5 32
September 1 6 33
1 Includes six fatalities resulting from the helicopter crash on the Brent Spar.

Separate figures for the east Shetland basin could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Figures in respect of disablement from work for three days or more are not readily available. I shall write to the hon. Member with this information as soon as possible.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (I) how many visits his Department's safety inspectors made to offshore installations in August and September; how much notice they gave in each case; and how long each visit lasted;

(2) what is the policy of his Department's safety inspectors as regards giving notice to the operators of offshore oil and gas installations before visiting; and what information he has on Norwegian practice.

Mr. Moynihan

Twelve offshore inspections were undertaken in August 1990 and six in September 1990. My Department does not maintain records of the precise duration of each inspection.

The Offshore Installations (Inspectors and Casualties) Regulations 1973 require inspectors to give offshore operators reasonable notice of their need for conveyance offshore for the purpose of carrying out an inspection. In practice approximately four days' notice are normally given. Inspectors also have the discretion to undertake surprise visits where virtually no advance notice is given and they do this from time to time.

I understand that Norwegian practice is similar.