HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT 2014
page 26
4.5 Joint Auditing Initiative
In February 2013, Maersk Oil raised the possibility of joint supply chain auditing at a Health & Safety Forum
meeting, having identified that many contractors and suppliers find themselves being audited by a range of clients
(typically operators), duplicating effort and imposing an unnecessary burden on the supply chain companies.
A group, established with facilitation from Oil & Gas UK, is exploring the development of a more collaborative
approach whereby resources are pooled to carry out audits. The group comprises Maersk Oil, BP, BG Group,
Centrica, CNR International, EnQuest and Shell. Work is ongoing to establish operating principles and protocols for
joint auditing to meet the collective objectives, as well as improve audit arrangements and outcomes from both
the operator and supply chain perspectives.
4.6 Helicopter Incidents
On 23 August 2013, there was a fatal accident involving a Super Puma L2 about two nautical miles west of Sumburgh
off Shetland with 14 people rescued and four fatally injured. An update from the Air Accident Investigation Branch
(AAIB) shortly after the incident reported that preliminary investigations indicated that there was “a reduction in
airspeed accompanied by an increased rate of descent” approximately three miles from the runway at Sumburgh.
It also said that the helicopter was intact and upright when it entered the water. The AAIB investigation is ongoing
and the cause is not yet known.
4.7 Helideck Issues on Normally Unattended Installations
Oil & Gas UK’s normally unattended installation (NUI) steering group continued to work in 2013 on a number of
helideck issues, taking a holistic approach to reducing the risk of a helideck crash. A project plan, reviewed by the
UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), was developed for each NUI detailing planned and ongoing work to improve areas
such as the obstacle environment, lighting and surface conditions. A bow-tie (hazard) analysis was also completed
to show the full range of preventative, control and mitigation arrangements in place for a helicopter crash on the
helideck. These arrangements will be subject to technical discussion and agreement from the CAA.
