Firstly, BOE applauds NOPSEMA for being the only offshore safety regulator to publish a newsletter on a regular basis.
Their latest issue identifies and explains their five National Priorities. These priorities could apply worldwide:
- Structural integrity – Ensuring offshore assets remain safe and well maintained.
- Addressing redundant wells – Strengthening oversight to ensure wells are decommissioned responsibly.
- Psychosocial health – Protection of worker mental health and well being.
- Control of work – Promoting effective systems to ensure work is carried out safely and we learn from incidents to continually improve.
- Leadership and management – Sharing how decision-making impacts safety and environmental outcomes on offshore facilities
I also strongly support their commitment to investigating non-work related fatalities at offshore facilities. These incidents should not simply be classified as non-occupational with no further explanation. NOPSEMA’s investigation of these fatalities involves the following steps:
- Identify the circumstances of the reported death.
- Assess the immediate response to the reported death.
- Identify any work related causal factors present prior to the reported death.
- Identify the cause of death as provided by the relevant Coroner or medical practitioner
Lastly, I like the name of their newsletter, which shows pride in being an offshore safety regulator. Safety regulators facilitate offshore energy development by identifying and mitigating safety and environmental risks. With few exceptions, they perform their legislatively mandated duties effectively and efficiently. I’m proud to have been an offshore safety regulator for many years.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 