Robert Paterson News

Oil & Gas U.K. said it is pleased that a plenary vote in the European Parliament may see the introduction of a directive on offshore safety and environment. Robert Paterson, Oil & Gas U.K.’s health, safety and employment director, said: “Oil & Gas U.K. has worked hard to campaign for this directive in place of the European Commission’s original proposition of a Regulation and the very real danger to our workers’ safety that this would have brought. [Directives are addressed to member states rather than their citizens, and are therefore only legally binding upon the states themselves. Under the process known as "transposition" the directive sets the framework but the practical details of implementation are left for the member states to decide.

Research to measure offshore workers’ body size with 3D scanners to inform the future design of safety equipment, survival clothing and space requirements on offshore installations has been launched in Aberdeen. The research, which will generate an ongoing capability for measuring the size and shape of the offshore workforce, is reported to be the first of its kind in more than 25 years and is being led by researchers at Robert Gordon University’s Institute of Health and Welfare Research (IHWR) in collaboration with Oil and Gas U.K.

Stork Technical Services has won the first ever ‘Ideas in Safety’ prize at this year’s UK Oil and Gas Industry Safety Awards. Stork’s on-site machining & bolting team received the award for its innovative hot bolt clamp system, which enables the safe removal and replacement of corroded bolts on live flanged connections which have eight bolts or less. The award recognizes an individual or team working on a UKCS offshore facility who have developed an original idea for improving safety in the workplace focusing on hydrocarbon leak reduction.