In the early days of oil and gas, workers were assured they had health and safety protections and employment
security, but we knew different. The Department of Energy looked after health and safety. They insisted that
regulations were in place; the regulator was well-resourced and controlling the industry; everything that could be done was being done to benefit workers and the country; yadda yadda! Then Piper Alpha blew apart killing 167 workers.
Academics around the world wrote about the Piper disaster. Looking at causes they talked about things like
the ‘Common interest principle’ where government and industry had the same interest. The ‘Political economy
of speed’ moving from one industry (coal) to a new industry (oil & gas).
They talked about precarious work and a “Captured Regulator” where the regulator is acting in the interests of the industry (and government) by applying the lightest of regulatory control. Workers summed it up as – the wild west – where you were always dodging bullets to try and earn a few quid!
Fast forward to the present day and renewables. We are assured we have health and safety protections and
employment security. We are told there are regulations in place. The regulator (HSE) is well resourced and in control. Everything that can be done is being done for workers and the country. Right?
Wrong! Workers don’t know what regulations apply. The HSE have 3 inspectors in place (or is it 4?) for the entire offshore wind sector. The ‘Common interest principle’ is evident along with the ‘Political economy of speed’ as we move from oil & gas to wind. Precarious work is everywhere and we have a “Captured Regulator” as the lightest of regulatory control is being applied. Workers are dodging bullets again, it is the wild west, again!
Must we wait for another tragedy to sort this mess?
Published in our newsletter, Outage 1 (January 2024)
