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Our Vision Health and safety risks in the Australian offshore petroleum industry are properly controlled.
This series of messages is aimed at keeping you informed of the operations of NOPSA. Please let us know if you would like to be added to the distribution list
PERSONNEL: NOPSA welcomes the Hon Bob Baldwin MP as the new Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. Mr Baldwin has special responsibility for NOPSA and, accompanied by Sue Kruse of DITR (responsible for NOPSA policy), will visit offshore facilities and NOPSA offices in early May.
Richard Browne commenced as NOPSA's new Financial Controller as from 3rd April 2006. Richard came to NOPSA from the State Government's Department of Industry and Resources where he held various positions in their finance area.
A further round of recruitment for new OHS Inspectors is under way.
INDUSTRY MATTERS: A recent high potential incident involved the violent failure of a temporary pipe-work hammer union, which are in common use, due to a mismatch of fittings. The issue has been the subject of a large number of safety alerts, spanning many years, and a recent alert was issued by the IADC, following a fatality at a well test site. Operators and employers are advised to ensure that they understand and manage the risk associated with the use of these couplings in their operations.
WA DoIR is hosting a Petroleum Breakfast Workshop, on 2nd May at Gloucester Park, to discuss the WA Submerged Lands Act draft safety regulations. The event includes a presentation comparing Commonwealth PSLA 82 safety regulations and the WA drafts, followed by a panel discussion covering Diving Safety Regulations and Occupational Health & Safety Regulations.
WA Well Operations Management Plan (WOMP) Regulations were recently enacted and are now in force in WA Coastal waters. Operators conducting drilling activities in this area should consult the new regulations, and the Designated Authority, WA DoIR, for more details. Please note that safety aspects of well operations should be included in the facility’s Safety Case, in accordance with the safety case provisions of the Management of Safety on Offshore Facilities (MoSOF) regulations.
During a number of NOPSA planned inspections we noted issues regarding poor use of scaffolding, and failure to manage related risks. NOPSA encourages operators to review their scaffolding practices.
Accredited Health & Safety Representatives course providers are now providing training courses on Health and Safety legislation to onshore & offshore oil company managers and supervisors. This was a need also identified at the recent HSR Forum and it is encouraged by NOPSA.
NOPSA wishes to thank operators of facilities for their timely reporting of responses to recent cyclones.
SAFETY ALERTS: A recall notice has been issued by Brookdale International Systems, the manufacturers of Evac-U8, EVAC+ and EVAC Pro emergency escape smokehoods. Operators who believe they have these escape kits should consult the manufacturer’s website.
A gas release occurred from a gas lift riser pipe within the riser caisson on a platform after being shut-in in preparation for an approaching cyclone. The full safety alert is on the NOPSA website.
STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS: The Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources (DITR) is undertaking a review of cost recovery arrangements as outlined in the 2004-05 Portfolio Budget Statement. The Review Team has completed a consultation process with key stakeholders and has circulated a draft issues paper for comment. Comments should be provided to Ms Linda Tindall-Mather on (02) 6276 1894 or email: Linda.Tindall-Mather@industry.gov.au by Friday 27 May 2006.
WORKFORCE: An HSR Forum was held at the Joondalup Resort in late February and the HSR Forum Facilitator’s report will be available shortly. Once finalised it will be sent to all forum participants and will be posted on the NOPSA website.
We are also pleased to note that following this forum a number of new Health and Safety Representatives have been elected on several facilities.
CONFERENCES: The presentations given by NOPSA Team Leaders at the APPEA National Oil and Gas Safety Conference in March, concerning NOPSA’s first year of operations and the current National Programmes, are available from our website. The full suite of conference presentations will be issued by APPEA.
NOPSA will have a stand at the annual APPEA conference, which this year is to be held on the Gold Coast, from 7-10th May. The theme of the conference is ‘A Platform for Prosperity’ and aims to examine a number of issues considering “the state of the industry in a global context, the real challenges we face on a day-to-day basis and what we must address in order to prosper in the future.” The conference program also includes presentation of the Industry Safety Awards.
NOPSA will present on ‘Offshore Emergency Response’ at the forthcoming IFAP Crisis & Emergency Management Conference to be held in Joondalup, 1-2nd June 2006.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE The next NOPSA Board meeting is to be held on the 11-12th May and shall coincide with the APPEA conference on the Gold Coast.
WEBSITE: Advice on identifying the operator of a diving project has been posted on the NOPSA website.
The Enforcement Management Model used by NOPSA is also now available.
INTERNATIONAL: The UK Safety Case Regulations 2005 came into force on 6th April 2006 and replaced the 1992 Regulation. Interpretative guidance will be published. Some Information Sheets, discussing key changes are available including one discussing the new requirements concerning the ALARP demonstration. Comprehensive information is available on industry workshops held in the UK in February to discuss these changes. The information includes a summary of what has changed and what is retained. The ‘Assessment Principles for Offshore Safety Cases’ have also been revised. New Topic guidance is being written by the UK HSE, and it is anticipated that there will also be a new streamlined assessment procedure that will help to integrate HSE’s safety case work with inspections. NOPSA will be considering these documents to ascertain any implications for regulatory practice.
REGULATORY ACTIVITIES in April 2006: The following activity occurred during April. Quantities identified here may vary as further information becomes available.
Safety Case Assessment During April six Safety Cases (SC) were assessed, including one Diving Project Plan (DSMP). There was no assessment of Pipeline Safety Management Plans (PSMP) undertaken.
At the end of April, fifteen Safety Cases were still being assessed.
Inspections There were four inspections undertaken in April. Inspections involved crane and lifting operations (national programmes), management of third party equipment and follow up on previous recommendations.
As a result of recent inspections offshore, NOPSA notes safety issues relating to service companies working on MODUs. This applies both to the way the Client and/or the Operator of the facility manage the contractors, and, equally importantly, how the service companies manage their own safety issues.
Incidents & Complaints: During April three complaints and twenty-three incidents were investigated. The incidents included five injuries, five dropped objects and two hydrocarbon releases. The remainder of the incidents were principally mechanical/equipment issues, and an unauthorized helicopter landing.
Enforcement There were no Improvement or Prohibition Notices issued in April.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is commencing prosecution of an operator, on behalf of NOPSA, regarding the alleged overriding of a safety critical device.
Past issues of this newsletter are available from the NOPSA website at: http://www.nopsa.gov.au/CEO_emails/
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