Health & Safety Report 2014

HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT 2014

Advanced Anomaly Detection for the Health and Usage Monitoring System

A programme began in 2009 to introduce advanced anomaly detection (AAD) to the health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) data from the UKCS offshore helicopter fleet. The outcome of a successful CAA research project, AAD improves on existing HUMS data analysis using data mining techniques and enhances the HUMS’ sensitivity to defects without increasing or even reducing the false alert rate. When fully implemented, HUMS defect detection rates may increase from about 65 per cent to 85 per cent. Since 2013, HUMS AAD for the most used helicopter types has been undergoing ‘controlled service introduction’. 5.6 Summary The offshore oil and gas industry is of significant economic importance to the UK and could not operate efficiently without helicopters. These non-scheduled public transport operations on the UKCS take place in a hostile environment and, although the safety record is good for this type of operation (compared globally), it still experiences a higher accident rate than airline operations. Since the beginning of oil and gas operations in the UK North Sea, the longest fatal accident-free period has been nine years, from 1993 to 2001. Despite having a fleet of some of the most up-to-date and technologically advanced helicopters, the most recent fatal accidents occurred in July 2002 (Sikorsky S76 in Leman Field), December 2006 (Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin at Morecambe Bay), April 2009 (Eurocopter AS332 L2 Super Puma off Peterhead) and August 2013 (Eurocopter AS332 L2 Super Puma on approach to Sumburgh). These tragic accidents serve as a constant reminder of the need for continuous improvement to minimise the risks. The fatal helicopter accident in August 2013 once again reiterated to the industry the hazardous nature of offshore oil and gas exploration and production on the UKCS, when tragically, four people lost their lives and a survivor was seriously injured. The accident happened whilst on approach and within a couple of miles of Sumburgh Airport, causing the 14 survivors to endure a difficult rescue from hostile seas. This most recent event, along with three other fatal accidents since 2002 and three ditchings since 2009, serve to remind everyone that our industry safety record should be, in the first instance, measured in human terms and not just as a set of statistics. For that reason, readers are encouraged to keep this firmly in mind whilst reading this report. These events reinforce the need for the UK oil and gas industry to continue to work with the helicopter operators, helicopter and safety equipment manufacturers, and regulators to further reduce risks. Risk reduction will only be achieved by collectively and vigorously pursuing current and future offshore helicopter safety initiatives and research projects and ensuring, where practicable, implementation of actions and recommendations arising from various inquiries and reviews from 2013 to 2014 (such as the CAA review) are expedited.

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