A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has revealed the need for an independent organization dedicated to safety and environmental protection, with no advocacy role.
Read this article to learn about the role of transparency in the offshore oil and gas industry.
Better Safety Culture Needed On Rigs And Platforms
A single drilling site can have multiple contractors. The nature of work in offshore oil rigs is dangerous, making it necessary to develop a safety culture. Inculcating a safety culture in the workplace requires consistent efforts and a change in attitudes. Ensuring better transparency in recording information related to safety practices and making this information public will go a long way in preventing major accidents in the offshore oil and gas industry.
David Hammer said in a recent article:
“The offshore oil and gas industry needs to do more to create better “safety culture” on rigs and platforms and government regulators need to be more open about companies’ safety records, according to a report this week from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.”
Need To Collect Relevant Data To Prevent Accidents
The lack of documentation and accountability in ensuring that safety practices are followed in the offshore oil and gas industry is a drawback that needs to be addressed. Communicating with workers from different countries and those with limited English proficiency will help solve issues.
Government regulatory bodies should be proactive in identifying any failure to comply with these safety regulations. This can be enforced by making it mandatory to report data related to safety practices.
As shared in a recent article:
“A commonly noted problem in studying accidents in the offshore oil and gas industry is the lack of complete and accurate data related to accidents and near misses. Therefore, regulators and the industry should define the factors necessary for understanding the precursors to accidents, determine what data need to be submitted to which regulatory agencies, regularly collect and analyze data, and share findings across the industry.“
Inspection records and safety regulations need to be made available in the public domain. This will encourage accountability of oil and gas operators in the offshore industry. Increase in regulations in the offshore oil and gas industry will help ensure safer working conditions in the industry.