North Sea to become Safer?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said there were grounds for believing that health and safety performance on the UK Continental Shelf will see a major improvement during the next decade.

The comments came as HSE published headline offshore injury and ill-health statistics for the year ending March 31, 2003, together with updated hydrocarbon release figures. These show that there were no fatalities offshore last year and significant reductions in reported 'over three day' injuries and hydrocarbon releases.

Provisional figures contained in HSE's Offshore Safety Statistics Bulletin for 2002/2003 show

• there were no deaths offshore, compared to three in 2001/2002
• 58 major injuries were reported, up four (a 7% increase) on last year's figures
• the combined fatal and major injury rate increased to 260.5 per 100,000 workers compared to 245.6 in 2001/2002
• "over three day" injuries decreased by 31% to 123 - 53 less than the previous year, sustaining the reducing trend
• the rate of over three day injuries declined significantly from 758.42 per 100,000 workers in 2001/2002 to 552.45 per 100,000 workers in 2002/2003; and
• 636 dangerous occurrences (including hydrocarbon releases) were reported - 25 less than the previous year (a decrease of 4%).

Added to site on 5/09/03

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