INDUSTRY body Oil and Gas UK is introducing new guidelines setting out principles and process in the banning of contractor employees from an offshore installation.
This process is commonly referred to as “not required back” or “NRB”.
The new guidelines are being introduced in response to workforce concerns that the lack of a clear and transparent process could potentially prevent individuals from raising safety concerns offshore.
Details are to be announced in Aberdeen on Thursday.
Last August, the Press and Journal reported that Oil and Gas UK was to lead fresh efforts to stamp out offshore workers being banned from any installation in the North Sea without being given a reason.
Chris Allen, the health, safety and environment director of the industry body, had said that the practice of people being NRB was not as widespread as rumoured, with only a handful of cases annually.
Mr Allen added that OGUK’s predecessor, the UK Offshore Operators’ Association, had come up with guidelines in 2004 to end workers being NRB without a proper procedure, but had not won the backing of all sides and this had undermined their effectiveness.