An event is being held in Houston next month to mark the 30th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster.
It will be held in the city’s Petroleum Club on July 6, with a live stream of the service from the memorial at Aberdeen’s Hazlehead Park.
Nick Mair, a safety training specialist, has organised it in a bid to highlight the lessons and changes the tragedy brought to the international oil and gas community.
167 people lost their lives in the disaster in 1988, the worst in the history of the offshore sector.
Mr Mair specialises in CompEx training – a certification for technicians in explosive atmospheres brought about following the Piper Alpha disaster.
Originally from Aberdeen, he has worked in Houston for the past twenty years and had a family friend who lost their life in the disaster.
He said: “Highlighting Piper Alpha is always a good thing because it makes people aware of the potential for a catastrophic explosion.
“I think the ultimate goal is for people to be aware that 167 people have died and of the changes that have happened in the industry.
“I know it is 30 years ago but it is still prominent, we’re still talking about it and I think that’s incredible.
“If you’re in the oil and gas sector then showing a little respect for the 167 people that died is not a lot to ask.”
Mr Mair believes that the industry is much safer as a result of the recommendations brought about following Piper Alpha.
Over 64,000 people have been given CompEx certification given since its inception and Mr Mair said it is among the major impacts that Piper Alpha had on the sector.
He added: “Everything we do with our work is all safety related. When we do our training over here the first thing we use is the story of Piper Alpha video.
“I think it will be great to get it to the community in Houston.
“The North Sea is the most intense area that I’m aware of where safety is paramount. I think the US is doing great and I think it’s predominantly industry that’s driving it forward.”
For more info on the event, go here.
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