Media Centre
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Oil and Gas Industry to Maintain Focus on Helicopter Safety
Oil & Gas UK can today (24 August 2010) announce that a new Helicopter Safety Steering Group has been formed under the Step Change in Safety initiative, with the aim of proactively identifying and addressing cross-industry issues around helicopter safety. The new group builds on the excellent work of the Helicopter Task Group, which came to a logical conclusion, having successfully dealt with a wide range of aviation safety issues in the aftermath of the tragic accident of Flight 85N on 1 April 2009.
Bob Keiller, chair of the Helicopter Task Group, explained: “Helicopter safety is such an important issue; it deserves the industry’s full attention. The task group was always meant to just deal with the immediate matters arising from the accident of Flight 85N. However, throughout its existence, the value of having such a group on a pan industry basis has become very obvious. Bringing the industry, helicopter operators, the regulators, trade unions and the workforce representatives together to work on safety issues can make a real difference, allowing safety issues to be dealt with in a much more efficient way and new initiatives to be introduced without delay. It is important that the excellent work of the task group continues, albeit under different leadership and under a new umbrella.”
The new steering group will become part of Step Change in Safety and will be lead by two new co-chairs, Bill Munro, managing director of Bond Offshore Helicopters and Ken Robertson, CNNS asset manager, Shell U.K. Limited.
Bill Munro explained: “I am delighted to take on the role of co-chair of the new Step Change in Safety Helicopter Safety Steering Group. One of my first tasks will be to ensure that we continue the fantastic work started by the Helicopter Task Group, for example looking at initiatives that can prevent accidents, improving our emergency response procedures and further enhancing workforce communication. I am particularly pleased that the offshore trade unions and the pilots’ union BALPA have confirmed their participation in this new group. There can be no doubt that helicopter operators take safety very seriously and that helicopter operations are conducted under a very stringent regulatory regime. However, where concerns remain it is important that we listen to the workforce, take their views seriously and implement changes if required. The joint approach in the new Helicopter Safety Steering Group will make this possible, benefiting not only the offshore workforce but the wider industry as a whole by making the UK a world-leader in offshore helicopter safety.”
The new group will include representatives from the helicopter operators, oil and gas operators and contractors, offshore trade unions, the pilots’ union BALPA, the regulators HSE and CAA and Oil & Gas UK.
Ends
For more information contact Chris Walker on 01224 577279.
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