I’m a worker/safety rep with decades in the oil and gas industry and it’s worrying to see workers once again being used as pawns by industry and government to justify their actions. We are told we are important, we need to be focused, have the right attitude and behaviour, to be safe, cos we’re a key part of the industry and we’ll be involved in a just transition.
For years the resources have been exploited and £billions taken by companies, shareholders, and governments in tax, but nothing has been put aside in the UK for the transition of the industry. It shouldn’t be a distant dream, we can see Norwegian rigs, we know their T&Cs and we read about their wealth fund. Now, the promises made to workers offshore regarding the transition are a distant dream, along with job security. Onshore, the promises made to Grangemouth workers before the last election by the incoming “Labour” government (can we still call them that?) about saving Grangemouth, is a prime example, workers are just pawns faced with broken promises.
There’s many years left in production and decommissioning offshore, and while safety has improved over the years, it has ‘plateaued’ in oil and gas, and it’s crap in renewables! After all the money that’s flowed/flowing from here, means we should be in a good place, a better place.
Engagement and information sharing with workers is vital and promises made should be kept. You can’t forget promises days after an election, and you must engage those affected by your decisions. Failing to do this is dangerous practice, workers get distracted, lose focus, and safety will suffer! UK regulation requires workforce involvement all the time! It’s still happening on some oil and gas sites, some could be better, but renewables needs major improvement and regulated better.
Sam – scunnered and scared.
(Note: This is not Sam Peace, Director of Energy Division at HSE... but it should be!)
Published in our newsletter, Outage 6 (March 2025)
