UK offshore oil industry warned on personal safety stats

The Health and Safety Executive has expressed its concern with the UK offshore oil industry due to a worsening personal safety record.

No fatalities were recorded in 2009-10 - the third year in a row where this was the case - but the personal safety of workers was still at threat, the report notes.

Over the past five years, the average number of significant injuries per year has come in at 42, falling to just 30 in 2008-09.

The following year, however, the number spiked up by two-thirds to hit 50 major incidents in 2009-10.

Steve Walker, head of the offshore division of the Health and Safety Executive, says: "I am pleased to see no fatalities for a third consecutive year in the areas we regulate."

However, he adds that 17 people died in non-regulated offshore incidents, indicating the hazards that may be encountered off the coast of the UK.

The three years of no fatalities in regulated activities follow two years from 2005-07 in both of which offshore gas and oil industry workers died.