Thursday 8 September 2005

INDUSTRY FOCUS SET FIRMLY ON ACHIEVING HEALTH AND SAFETY TARGETS

Responding to comments made today by Taf Powell, head of HSE's Offshore Division, at the Offshore Europe 2005 exhibition and conference, Chris Allen, UKOOA's Health and Safety Director, said:

"The UK offshore oil and gas industry is well aware of the challenge it has set itself to become the world's safest oil and gas producing region and the need to remain focussed on improvement.  Nevertheless, good progress has been made and the UK sector now has the best safety performance in Europe.

"The industry's leadership on safety and the Step Change in Safety initiative is without parallel.  Offshore businesses have long understood that safety is an integral part of good management and no other industry puts as much money, time and effort into promoting safer work practices.

UKOOA will continue to work in partnership with the HSE on the issues which we have jointly identified will make a difference.  One example is the cross-industry workgroup we are leading to address concerns about installation integrity, which is fundamental to our ability to sustain activity successfully in the North Sea in the years to come.

For more information, please call 020 7802 2400.

NOTE TO EDITORS

1. The UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) is the representative organisation for oil and gas companies licensed by the UK government to explore for and produce hydrocarbons offshore around the British Isles.  It has 33 members.