Major accident warning after offshore firm failings in explosion plan

The health and safety watchdog has issued a “major accident warning” to the offshore inudstry after an oil firm was handed an enforcement notice.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors found that Apache had failed to fully consider “human factors” on its Forties Delta platform in the North Sea when creating its explosion and fire prevention plan.

The inspection found the company had failed to take appropriate measures to prevent the uncontrolled release of flammable or explosive substances during main oil line pig launcher operations.

Mary Marshall, a principal specialist inspector at HSE, said it is necessary offshore firms like Apache identify safety critical tasks carried out on their offshore installations.

Ms Marshall said: “Offshore companies need to understand and evaluate where and how these safety critical tasks might be vulnerable to human error.

“Safety Critical Task Analysis (SCTA) is an established, structured process that will help companies demonstrate that these tasks can be carried out safely, reliably and that the risks are managed to as low as reasonably practicable.

“This will include consideration of the design of the equipment, details of the tasks and the factors which support task performance.”

HSE said a number of offshore firms have launched SCTA programmes with varying degrees of success.

Common failings that HSE has identified with these SCTA programmes include a lack of sustained commitment and progress with the work, and inconsistencies in the quality of assessments.

An Apache spokesperson said: “Apache North Sea can confirm we received an HSE improvement notice on  May 9.  

“At the time the notice was received, Apache was in the process of updating procedures and conducting safety critical task analysis on Forties Delta.  Equipment labelling has been replaced and alternative height access has been installed.

“Apache is committed to safe and responsible operations. We remain focussed on all maintenance work and continue to implement appropriate mitigations to maintain safe, ongoing operations.”

Apache currently has until November 9 to comply with the Improvement Notice. It has not appealed against the notice, HSE said.