US regime change could enhance personal safety

The personal safety of US oil workers could be enhanced in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

When it exploded on April 20th 2010, sinking two days later, the rig caused the deaths of 11 workers.

Now Charles Hendry, UK minister for energy, has issued a written statement on the findings of the US National Commission investigating the leak.

A number of the recommendations made could help to enhance personal safety for oil workers in the US.

For instance, the commission advocates an independent authority with responsibility for regulation of both environmental impact and safety in offshore drilling operations.

Third-party audits have also been suggested as an addition to the industry's risk assessment arrangements for management-level systems.

"We will continue to work with industry and with European partners to see how further improvements could be made," asserts Mr Hendry in his written ministerial statement.