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Planned Inspections

OHS inspectors may conduct inspections and audits of facilities. Inspections and audits are used to monitor compliance with the legislation and ongoing implementation and compliance with safety cases, pipeline safety management plans and diving safety management systems including diving project plans.

Planned inspections focus on facilities. The subject of planned inspections will include both control and management of Major Accident Events and Occupational Health and Safety. There will be at least one inspection per year for each manned installation, where practicable.

During the inspections and audits, OHS inspectors will communicate with all levels of the workforce including Health and Safety Representatives (HSR). Inspections and audits may take several days and incorporate overnight stays on facilities.

The controls and SMS elements inspected will be reviewed as far as practicable in line with a range of factors:

  • Are the controls implemented? - do the controls exist as described in the safety case, Pipeline Safety Management Plan (PSMP) or Diving Safety Management System/Diving Project Plan (DSMS/DPP). That is the right number, type etc.
  • Are the controls functional? - do the controls function as described in the safety case, PSMP or DSMS/DPP. That is, do they perform as desired by the performance standards etc.
  • Are the controls maintained? - are maintenance activities on the controls as frequent and cover the issues identified in the safety case, PSMP, DSMS/DPP. That is, do they check the functionality assigned above to the required standard, as often as described, etc?
  • Are the controls audited? - are the maintenance and inspection results checked and acted upon, if the functionality is not as expected, and what is done etc?
  • Is the workforce competent? - is competency of personnel demonstrated? Are personnel assessed for positions, tasks etc?

Each planned inspection will focus on:

  • Verification of operator commitments regarding the recommendations from previous inspections and audits and incident investigations.
  • For facilities under MoSOF - controls and/or management system elements taken from a control measure related to at least one of the following:
    • a major accident event (MAE)
    • the occupational health and safety area.
  • For facilities under the Pipelines Regulations, controls and/or management system elements from the PSMP, of which at least one has a Significant Pipeline Accident Event focus and at least one has an Occupational Health and Safety focus.
  • For operations under the Diving Regulations, controls and/or management system elements from the DSMS/DPP.

As part of its planned inspection program, NOPSA will also be reviewing the internal auditing aspects of Operators' Safety Managements Systems using a dedicated prompt sheet.

Inspections of FPSO's and FSO's will employ a checklist focussed on sail away preparedness.

For more information see the Planned Inspection Policy.

Identity Card

Every OHS inspector is issued with an identity card as required by section 391 of the Offshore Petroleum Act 2006. A person to whom an identity card is issued must carry the identity card at all times when carrying out functions as an OHS inspector. The identity card is a white plastic card the same size as a credit card. It must display a recent photograph of the inspector and be signed by the inspector.

If you find someone either claiming to be an OHS inspector or attempting to use the powers of an OHS inspector who cannot produce a proper identity card the matter should be reported to NOPSA immediately.

For security reasons NOPSA is unable to provide an image of the identity card on this website. If you wish to view an example of an identity card please contact NOPSA to speak with the HR Manager.

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