Safety challenges
Thoughts of the 167 dead, survivors and the families of those on the Piper Alpha that night lie heavily on those working in the North Sea to this day.
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) believes that regulatory and industry standards have significantly improved since 1988, making the UK offshore oil and gas industry a world leader in safety.
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Hide AdBut there are still significant challenges to overcome in the North Sea, including ageing infrastructure, decreasing reserves resulting in the exploitation of deeper, less accessible fields and how to regulate other offshore emerging energy technologies.
On publication of the Cullen report on Piper Alpha, the then energy secretary John Wakeham said that the “measure of our sympathy is the determination that nothing of this kind shall ever happen again”. 6 July is not solely a commemoration; it is a reminder that we must build on progress made to ensure our offshore industry is ever ready to meet the new challenges to its workers’ safety and health.
Allison Laws
Offshore Group, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
Highfield Drive
Wigston, Leicestershire