Working in the UK offshore energy sector presents hazards and risks which you may not encounter in other working environments. The sector is covered by regulations parts of which you may not be familiar with, and especially if you are new to the offshore environment. The regulations are also different for the industrial sectors – Oil & Gas; Wind/Renewables; and Maritime/Shipping support. So, best be aware of the regulations covering you, especially if you are moving around the sector.
On this page we set out key Health and Safety regulations applicable to each industrial sector of the offshore energy working environment. This is not an exhaustive list and other regulations may be applicable to certain activities. This information gives you an insight to the standards applicable to the work environments you may encounter. However, we are just an email away if you have any specific questions concerning health and safety or if you want to report (confidentially) any breaches of health and safety standards. Email us at: info@rmt-offshore.uk
The Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005 (HSE website)
Prevention of Fire and Explosion and Emergency Response Regulations 1995 (PFEER) (HSE website)
Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction) Regulations 1996 (DCR) (HSE website)
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) (Legislation.gov.uk website)
Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regs 1995 (HSE website)
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) (Legislation.gov.uk website)
The Offshore Installations (Safety Representative and Safety Committees) Regs 1989 (HSE website)
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) (legislation.gov.uk website)
Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 (legislation.gov.uk website)
Working at Height Regulations 2005 (legislation.gov.uk website)
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022 (PPER 2022) (legislation.gov.uk website)
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (HSE website)
Diving at Work Regulations 1997 (HSE website)
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) (legislation.gov.uk website)
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) (legislation.gov.uk website)
Management of Health and safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) (PDF document - HSE website)
Working at Height Regulations 2005 (legislation.gov.uk website)
Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (Legislation.gov.uk website)
Note: The Merchant Shipping Act 1995 only applies to vessels working within the UK territorial waters (12-mile limit) or on vessels that are UK registered (UK flagged) beyond the 12-mile limit. On foreign registered vessels (non-UK flag) working out with the 12-mile limit (UK waters) no UK health and safety regulations apply.
For further information around Maritime Regulatory standards and the application of regulations, you may want to contact the group made up of the Health and Safety Executive; the Maritime Coastguard Agency; and the Maritime Accident Investigation Board. These agencies operate under a Memorandum of Understanding (gov.uk website).
RMT wants to see the entire offshore sector (UK Continental Shelf) regulated and would prefer to see consistent and easily understood regulations applied that cover common aspects of offshore energy operations. This would enable workers to move across the sector with knowledge and confidence, and this would support safe operations. For example, if the Oil & Gas regulatory provision for Safety Representatives and Safety Committees was applied across renewables and maritime, it would allow workers to be involved in matters that affect them and their work colleagues across the offshore energy sector.
