Offshore industry safety being compromised by ‘box ticking’

A “BOX ticking” culture of compliance is in danger of compromising safety in the North Sea and the global oil and gas industry, experts have claimed.

A new report – which was commissioned by OPITO, the North Sea industry’s training organisation and conducted by Robert Gordon University – has revealed that 65 per cent of oil companies believe that focusing on compliance issues could be hampering the overall drive to improve safety on offshore rigs.

The research, published at an international conference on safety in Abu Dhabi, claims that an improved focus on competence is required if the oil and gas industry is to deliver a “step-change” in vital safety skills and performance.

A spokeswoman for OPITO said the study – Tick Safety Not Boxes – had revealed a “tension” between ensuring systems are compliant and achieving competency within oil and gas companies across the globe.

The report states: “There is a clear realisation that merely being compliant is not appropriate if the goal is to continually improve workforce safety and skills.

“A number of respondents spoke of a ‘tick-box’ mentality amongst senior managers.

“As in earlier research there is evidence of a gap between what senior management think is happening and the reality operationally.”