Health and safety are of vital importance to the offshore energy industry. Not only is this a volatile industry with lots of moving components, but the unique combination of people, high-value assets, and hazardous conditions make playing by the book a necessity.
At UTM Consultants, we provide both clients and contractors with assurance for their health and safety. In this article, we’ll discuss common hazards and concerns, go over the industry best practices, and explore some of the relevant legislation to give you an idea of your legal requirements.
If you want to work with trained, safety-wise professionals, get in touch.
Offshore Hazards and Concerns
To begin, we’ll outline some of the various hazards and concerns you’re likely to come across in the offshore energy industry. These hazards range from minor to potentially life-threatening, and each requires their own considerations and health & safety output.
Weather Variables
Stormy weather can cause operational breakdowns, and the variances in weather at sea are both hard to predict and potentially catastrophic to offshore projects. Meteorological analysis is key to predicting offshore conditions and putting in place countermeasures to ensure maximum operational uptime.
High-Value Equipment
Risk of personal injury isn’t always a concern, with remote technologies like ROV becoming more prevalent. However, these technologies are often expensive, as are the assets being handled, so care needs to be taken to prevent costly mistakes.
Live Electricity
High-voltage cabling and electrolysis processes on offshore locations can be highly dangerous, especially when damaged or handled incorrectly. Proper processes and rigorous checks need to be in place to save lives, time, and money.
Animals, Habitats, and the Environment
While the wellbeing of workers and the safeguarding of assets is important, so too is the impact offshore operations have on undersea and ocean environments. Any threats to these environments should be observed, recorded, and addressed to comply with protection regulations and ensure a positive delivery for any project.
Volatile Materials
Oil, natural gases, hydrogen, and various other materials and chemicals are all commonplace in offshore energy roles. Depending on the mechanisms involved, these materials could present a hazard to people, habitats, and assets. Proper handling and safety guidance is therefore vital to prevent disasters.
Isolation
A key concern many will have when heading out to an offshore site is the isolation that follows. You may end up far away from shore, with no easy access to amenities or emergency services. Maritime supporters may be on hand to help in a crisis, but your initial health and safety mechanisms are imperative to a smooth, comfortable experience offshore.
Health and Safety Best Practices for Offshore Industry
Before we get into the nitty-gritty regulations, we will first go over a few of the fundamentals behind better operational security for clients and contractors alike. While often not mandatory, having access to these features will help improve health and safety standards on a variety of offshore projects.
Insurance
At UTM Consultants, we are fully insured in a range of areas, helping our contractors to confidently deliver their services. This means limiting liability in the case of an accident, and ensuring the right parties are protected in an unfortunate circumstance.
Find out more about our insurances >
Accreditations
We also have several different accreditations that show our commitment to health and safety. Two key accreditations include:
- ISO 9001:2015 – this specifies the requirements for quality, environmental health and safety management systems.
- IMC membership – a safety flash system to pass on lessons learned from offshore incidents.
In combination, these two accreditations show both our commitment to and excellence in offshore health and safety. This enables our clients to feel reassured their projects are in safe hands, and provides our contractors with confidence and protection that enables effective delivery of work.
Find out more about our accreditations >
Offshore Energy Health and Safety Regulations
Renewables UK has a helpful list of Offshore Energy Health and Safety Regulations. The guidance is extensive, and it is always recommended to talk to a consultant before initiating project work as this can help keep your business and workers safe and in the clear.
However, here are a few of the primary takeaways from these regulations:
Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 1974
The cornerstone of UK health and safety law, placing general duties on employers, employees, the self-employed, and others to protect health, safety, and welfare. It establishes the HSE as the regulator, sets enforcement powers, and allows for legal action. It follows a goal-setting approach but includes some absolute duties.
European Health and Safety Directives
EU directives on health and safety are transposed into UK law via statutory instruments, often under the HSWA. These directives set minimum standards, but UK law may be more stringent. Although the origin is shared, requirements can differ across countries. An exception is the Supply of Machinery Regulations, made under the European Communities Act 1972.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR) 1999
Promotes systematic health and safety management. Requires policies, risk assessments, emergency planning, cooperation among contractors, supervision, and employee consultation. Competence of employees and record-keeping for organisations with 5+ employees are emphasised.
Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations 2007
Applies to construction projects, encouraging early planning and collaboration to identify and manage risks. Requires documentation like the Health and Safety Plan and Project File, but focuses on improving health and safety outcomes rather than bureaucracy.
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013
Mandates reporting of serious workplace incidents, diseases, and near misses. The goal is to support HSE investigations and collect data for national monitoring. Reports are required within specified timeframes for categories like deaths, major injuries, and occupational diseases.
Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008
Implements the EU Machinery Directive to ensure machinery safety via inherently safe design, supported by harmonised standards, conformity assessment, and type examination. Ensures safe machinery trade within the EU.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998
Ensures work equipment is safe and maintained. Covers both management (e.g. training, maintenance) and physical safety requirements (e.g. guards, stop controls). Applies to all work equipment, regardless of who owns it. Relates closely to LOLER and the Machinery Safety Regulations.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations 2002
Requires employers to provide suitable PPE free of charge, ensure compatibility, maintain and replace it, and train users. Employees must use PPE correctly and report defects. Employers must enable defect reporting and supervise use.
Maritime Regulations
Covers health and safety in maritime operations under UK law, international conventions (e.g. SOLAS), and supporting publications. Regulates safety on vessels and offshore operations.
Maritime Regulations include:
- UK Merchant Shipping Regulation
- International Conventions and Technical Instruments
- Various Maritime Regulatory Publications
Regulators, Investigation and Enforcing Authorities
UK health and safety law is enforced both by the State (through criminal courts and regulators like the HSE) and by private individuals via civil actions. Statutory and common law duties overlap, with various regulators responsible depending on the sector.
Interface with Grid, OFTOs, etc
Describes the interface between offshore renewable energy installations (OREIs), National Grid, and OFTOs. Emphasises the need for safety coordination during asset transfer, development, and construction. Ofgem regulates the market, not health and safety.
Find Your Offshore Role with UTM Consultants
Now that you have an understanding of the hazards, practices, and regulations involved with offshore energy health and safety, the next step is to put your skills into action.
Whether you’re a health and safety expert or looking for offshore energy work alongside qualified professionals, then we have the roles to suit you.
At UTM Consultants, it is our mission to match the right talents with the right projects – ensuring an excellent experience for every individual. If you’re interested in finding out more, get in touch today.
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