Chair of Helicopter Task Group Given Prestigious International Safety Award
The chairman of the task group set up after a Super Puma helicopter crashed in the North Sea, killing 16 men, has received an offshore safety award.
PSN chief executive, Bob Keiller has been awarded the 2010 Carolita Kallaur Award by the IRF (International Regulators Forum) in recognition of his outstanding leadership as chair of the Helicopter Task Group. The award was officially presented at the IRF biannual conference in Vancouver this week.
The Helicopter Task Group was set up in April 2009, a week after the tragic flight 85N in which 16 men died. Made up of operators, contractors, Health and Safety Executive, Coastguard, Grampian Police, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and trade unions, the group sought to drive forward helicopter safety issues, looking specifically at accident prevention, emergency response and improving workforce communication.
Bob realised that a pan-industry approach was needed to address these concerns and played a pivotal role in bringing these agencies to the table to work together positively. The group's many achievements include the re-introduction of personal locator beacons and the progression of the multilateration flight-tracking system, advanced anomaly detection systems in helicopters and improved lighting on helidecks.
Every two years, the IRF - which comprises all the main offshore safety regulators around the world - presents safety awards for outstanding contributions to national and global safety within the offshore industry. Bob is the first individual to receive an award and was one of only two recipients of the 2010 award, the other being the Atlantic Canada Marine Safety Council.
Bob Keiller said:
"I am deeply honoured to receive this award but the success of the group was down to its members. Each member was willing to voice their thoughts and opinions yet support any agreed common course of action, even though their own views were quite different.
"Given the group was made up of a cross section of industry representatives, this is a huge credit to them all. The spirit and energy of the team was remarkable and I saw industry collaboration and support that I have not seen before. I accept this award on behalf of the entire Helicopter Task group and dedicate it to the 16 men who so tragically lost their lives on flight 85N, and of course their families."
Oil & Gas UK's health, safety and employment issues director, Robert Paterson, said: "This award is a fitting tribute to the great leadership Bob displayed in his role as chair of the group, which achieved a number of real safety improvements to offshore aviation. Everyone in the oil and gas industry really appreciates the work Bob put in to make these safety improvements actually happen."
Head of the HSE's Offshore Safety Division, Steve Walker, said:
"The substantial achievements of the Helicopter Task Group are all vital to the safety of those who work offshore. I am therefore delighted that Bob's leadership of the group, and his very substantial personal commitment and drive in making it such a success, has been so publicly recognised by this international safety award."
Published 21/10/2010
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