OFFSHORE SAFETY ISSUES EXPLORED: TONY PICKETT, PRODUCT MANAGER AT SCOTT SAFETY, OFFERS GUIDANCE ON THE CRITICAL ISSUES IN THIS HIGH RISK INDUSTRY

摘要

The UK offshore industry employs more than 20,000 people, who are exposed to a range of occupational health risks. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW) requires employers to ensure the health and safety of their employees and includes spe-cific regulations on health hazards such as noise, chemicals and radiation. Most of these regulations apply offshore or set standards that help to comply with the broad duties under the HSW Act. Offshore employers have the same legal duty to protect the health of their employees as onshore businesses.The main responsibility for controlling risks lies with those whose operations create them, so the owner or operator of an installation has responsibilities to everyone working on that site. But contractors also have responsibilities for health risks to their employees or others arising from their activities. These responsibilities overlap, so the law requires duty holders to co-operate with each other in ensuring health and safety,and employees also have duties not to endanger themselves or others.