This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8183970.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
HSE warning for offshore industry Offshore safety figures defended
(about 8 hours later)
Investment in the safety of offshore workers must continue despite the current economic climate, the Health and Safety Executive has warned. The Health and Safety Executive has defended its claims that offshore safety is as good as it has ever been.
The call came as figures revealed fatal and serious injuries to staff were at their lowest level since the HSE began regulating the industry. The body's annual report revealed fatal and serious injuries to workers were at their lowest level since the HSE began regulating the industry in 1991.
Judith Hackitt, of the HSE, said the trend was encouraging but the industry must not take its "eye off the ball". But it failed to record the fatal North sea helicopter crash in April which resulted in the deaths of 16 men.
The figures do not include the Super Puma helicopter crash on 1 April. The HSE, which does not record air and marine transport incidents, said there were no deaths during 2008-09.
The tragedy claimed the lives of 16 offshore workers when their aircraft came down 14 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast. The Super Puma helicopter tragedy, on 1 April, happened when the aircraft came down 14 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast.
According to the HSE review, which does not include air and marine transport incidents, there were no fatalities during 2008/09. The RMT union, which represents oil and gas industry workers, called for the HSE's reporting of offshore incidents to be changed, after saying the current system had created bad feeling among workers.
A total of 30 major injuries were reported, 14 fewer than the previous year. Hazards 'ever-present'
The combined fatal and major injury rate fell to 106 per 100,000 workers over the period, compared with 156 the previous year and 146 in 2006/07. Meanwhile, the executive's review recorded 30 major injuries - 14 fewer than the previous year - while there was a small reduction in minor incidents.
The number of major and significant hydrocarbon releases, regarded as potential precursors to an incident, also showed improvement with 61 in 2008/09 compared with 74 in 2007/08. The combined fatal and major injury rate fell to 106 per 100,000 workers over the period, compared with 156 the previous year.
'Stark reminder' There was also a reduction in the number of major gas releases, with 61 in 2008-09 compared to 74 in 2007-08.
The study found there was a small fall in the minor injury rate with 496 workers per 100,000 reporting an injury, bucking the broadly flat trend over the previous seven years. The HSE's Judith Hackitt warned the industry must not take its eye off the ball despite the figures, and said investment in the safety of offshore workers must continue through the economic crisis.
Ms Hackitt said: "The improvements in major and fatal accident rates are encouraging but the industry must not take its eye off the ball. Investment in safety must continue despite the current economic climate putting a squeeze on resources. She said: "Although we were pleased to see no fatalities occurring in offshore operations for a second consecutive year, this good news was, of course, overshadowed by the tragic events of 1 April when the Super Puma helicopter crashed with the loss of 16 passengers.
"Although we were pleased to see no fatalities occurring in offshore operations for a second consecutive year, this good news was of course overshadowed by the tragic events of 1 April when the Super Puma helicopter crashed with the loss of 16 passengers.
"The same day, in a separate incident, a worker received fatal injuries aboard a dive support vessel in transit."The same day, in a separate incident, a worker received fatal injuries aboard a dive support vessel in transit.
"Even though HSE's remit does not extend to air and marine transport activities, these incidents show that hazards are ever present offshore. The loss of 17 offshore workers this year is a tragedy and stark reminder to us all.""Even though HSE's remit does not extend to air and marine transport activities, these incidents show that hazards are ever present offshore. The loss of 17 offshore workers this year is a tragedy and stark reminder to us all."
Responsibility for offshore safety transferred to HSE from the former Department for Energy in 1991 on the basis of recommendations made in the report by Lord Cullen following the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988.