Offshore Safety Management Systems: Current Practice and a Prescription for Change

In: Disaster prevention and management: an international journal, Band 3, Heft 3, S. 33-48

Abstract

Safety performance on the UK continental shelf is normally of a high
standard, although there are still many "minor" accidents. However, a
comparative analysis reveals that major disasters in the North Sea have
forced up fatality statistics, indicating that there is a need for
improvement. The Cullen Report on the Piper Alpha disaster and the
ensuing Safety Case Regulations are evaluated in light of safety
performance. While the regulations are a major step in the right
direction, apparently there are gaps in the provision. Such gaps cannot
be filled solely by following the principles of total quality
management. Problems with the regulations include the fundamental
approach to public inquiries, the problems of objective versus
prescriptive regulations, technological bias, the behaviour of
management and management systems, communication problems, difficulties
with quantitative risk assessment, key concepts within the regulations
(ALARP and acceptance), change management, the nature of safety
management systems and ignoring the natural environment.