§ Mr. Ernie RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Executive requires in writing confirmation that sub-sea isolation valves are fitted to the main export lines where there is the likelihood of a large release of combustible material in the event of rupture.
§ Mr. ForthNo. Recommendation No. 44 of the Cullen report stated that there should be no immediate requirement for sub-sea isolation valves to be fitted on pipelines connected to installations. Instead, operators should demonstrate that adequate provision has been made against hazards from risers and pipelines, as part of the safety case which the report recommended should be required for each offshore installation.
§ Mr. Ernie RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Executive has now implemented the requirement that offshsore oil operators draw up harmonised permit to work systems
§ Mr. ForthIn recommendation 34 of the report of the public inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster, Lord Cullen recognised that standardisation of the permit to work system throughout the industry was neither necessary nor practicable. Howevever, he recommended that the industry itself should seek to increase harmonisation, with particular reference to proposals for guidelines that had been made by a working group of the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association—UKOOA—and which were outlined in the body of the report. I understand that UKOOA, together with representatives of other offshore organisations, has now produced draft guidance, which it aims to publish later this year following consultation within the industry.