Offshore oil and gas companies are being urged to focus more closely on the potential for human error to cause major accidents, after an inspection of a platform operated by Apache in the North Sea found failings in plans to prevent fires and explosions.
News
HSE urges offshore oil and gas firms to focus more on safety risks from human error
By
on 23 July 2024
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a “major accident warning” to offshore firms on 22 July, in which it warned about the risks that human error can pose when performing safety critical tasks on oil and gas platforms.
HSE has issued a warning to all offshore firms to consider more closely the impact that human factors could have on safety critical tasks on oil and gas platforms. Photograph: iStock/Arild Lilleboe
The warning followed an improvement notice served by the regulator to Apache North Sea Limited in May, which said: “You have failed to take appropriate measures with a view to preventing fire and explosion – in particular to prevent the uncontrolled release of flammable or explosive substances, namely hydrocarbon fluids during main oil line (MOL) pig launcher operations, on the Forties Delta offshore installation.”
The notice added that human and organisational factors issues had not been addressed in the design of the pig launching system, or in the supporting procedures and competency management systems.
Apache, which has not appealed against the notice, has until 9 November to comply.
The action against Apache prompted a wider warning from HSE to all offshore firms to consider more closely the impact that human factors could have on safety critical tasks on oil and gas platforms.
“Offshore companies need to understand and evaluate where and how these safety critical tasks might be vulnerable to human error,” said Mary Marshall, a principal specialist inspector at HSE. “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.”
While several offshore companies have launched SCTA programmes, HSE says they have been implemented “with varying degrees of success”. Common failings include “a lack of sustained commitment and progress with the work, and inconsistencies in the quality of assessments”.
NEWS
Scheme to recognise commitment to transport staff wellbeing launched by Road Haulage Association
By Orchie Bandyopadhyay on 01 October 2026
A new Wellbeing Recognition Scheme designed to allow organisations across the HGV, coach and van sectors to demonstrate their commitment to improving the health, wellbeing and resilience of the industry’s workforce has been launched by the Road Haulage Association (RHA).
Cost-of-living pressure is cutting into UK workers’ productivity, says report
By Orchie Bandyopadhyay on 04 October 2026
The cost of living is the single largest financial stressor for 62% of UK workers, far outweighing concerns about retirement savings (12%) and building emergency funds (8%), a new study has revealed. Sixty-two per cent of workers admit they do not fully understand the workplace retirement plan they pay into each month, according to TELUS Health’s Q2 2026 TELUS Mental Health Index.
Employers must meet staff to discuss flexible working requests, says first secretary of state
By Orchie Bandyopadhyay on 01 October 2026
Bosses must meet with employees who request flexible working and explain their reasons for any refusals, said Louise Haigh, first secretary of state, in a speech to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton on 15 September.