Thursday 26 March 2015

Finalists unveiled in prestigious industry safety awards

The names of the workers striving to ensure safety in the UK offshore oil and gas industry is as good as it can be are revealed today.

There were over 100 nominations to the UK Oil and Gas Industry Safety Awards, jointly organised by Oil & Gas UK and Step Change in Safety, with Maersk Oil as principal sponsor.

Selection of the finalists for the April 29 ceremony was undertaken by previous winners, elected safety representatives and senior leaders from across industry.

Robert Paterson, health and safety director with Oil & Gas UK, said: “We received some fantastic nominations for our awards which celebrate the outstanding efforts of workers and companies in ensuring the best safety practice in the workplace,” he said. “Even during these difficult times for the industry, safety remains at the forefront of operations and our awards help demonstrate that.”

Les Linklater, executive director, Step Change in Safety, added: “It is only right that we continue to celebrate the efforts made by committed individuals and organisations who are seeking to maintain and improve the safety of the North Sea, despite the challenges the industry is facing.  To be nominated by your peers for playing your part is recognition in itself, and every finalist should be proud of reaching this next stage.”

The finalists in the six award categories are:

Safety Leadership David Howard, Deputy OIM - Beatrice Alpha, Wood Group PSN George McGavin, Lead HSE Advisor, Aker Solutions Vic Retalic, HSES Manager, UK Business Unit, Premier Oil Plc

Safety Representative of the Year Karen McCombie, Offshore Support Planner, Sodexo Graeme Ritchie, Roustabout, Safety Representative, Rowan Drilling UK Ltd. Mark Williams, LOLER focal point/Safety Representative, Petrofac   Innovation in Safety BG Group and Amec Foster Wheeler

EnQuest Petrofac   Workforce Engagement Danny Savage and Willie McComb, Safety Coach and Project Manager, Centrica Energy Petrofac and Remontowa Shipyard Paul Redding and the Bruce Offshore Platform Team, BP   Occupational Health & Hygiene Amec Foster Wheeler Rowan Drilling UK Limited Total E&P UK   Sharing and Learning DNV GL IHF

Nexen Petroleum UK Limited   The winners of each category will be announced at the award ceremony taking place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and beginning at noon.   Ends   Notes to Editors: Robert Paterson and Les Linklater are available for interview.  To speak to Robert Paterson, contact Oil & Gas UK Press and PR Officer Jennifer Phillips on 01224 577279  or jphillips@oilandgasuk.co.uk and to speak to Les Linklater call Stephanie Smart on 07908 536885 or Stephanie@stepchangeinsafety.net.   Oil & Gas UK is the leading representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry. Its growing membership, which comprises oil and gas producers and contractor companies, numbers more than 500.   Step Change in Safety is a member-led, not-for-profit organisation which seeks the make the UK the safest oil province in the world to work in.  The organisation has 137 members, which represent operators, contractors, trade unions, regulators and the onshore and offshore workforce.  Step Change in Safety is made up of four Steering Groups:  Helicopter Safety, Asset Integrity, Competence & Human Factors and Workforce Engagement.