The HSE offshore Oil & Gas division have delivered the results of their three-year investigation into the safety and integrity of offshore installations and the equipment on them. The investigation, which involved the inspection of almost 100 installations, has produced mixed results, with the HSE advising that the report should be a warning to all involved in the offshore industry that more is needed.

The findings from the investigation reveal wide variations in safety standards, not only amongst different operators but worryingly also within the same organisations. The report highlighted that the concept of asset integrity is not well understood by organisations and that there was a need for better key indicators to inform the decision making process at a senior management level to determine how resources could best be allocated.

Senior management were a particular focus of the HSE’s findings as it was felt that the majority of senior management are not making effective use of integrity management data or giving sufficient priority to maintenance on installations. It is clear from the report that the onus will now rest with senior management to be able to demonstrate, by way of a clear paper trail, that they have adopted best practice guidelines and have effective systems and procedures in place to ensure maintenance is treated as a priority issue.

The HSE highlighting the role of senior management in this way will undoubtedly have heightened resonance with the coming into force of the Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007 (the "Act") next year. Although no individual offence of corporate manslaughter is created under the new Act, this early indication that the HSE are focussing on the role of senior managers, is a warning sign to the possible implications arising where the death of an individual was caused by senior management failing to prioritise maintenance issues. From the HSE’s reported findings, this will undoubtedly give cause for concern across the industry.

This article was written for Law-Now, CMS Cameron McKenna's free online information service. To register for Law-Now, please go to www.law-now.com/law-now/mondaq

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The original publication date for this article was 30/11/2007.