US investigators involved in the aftermath of the Macondo disaster have been on a fact-finding mission to Britain.
A team from the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) came to learn about the UK oil and gas industry’s regulatory regime and safety culture ahead of a public hearing on safety in America. A key focus was the role of regulators, workforce engagement and how asset-integrity issues are managed.
The group attended a Step Change in Safety leadership team meeting and learned about the work of the well life-cycle practices forum, under the auspices of industry body Oil and Gas UK.
The forum was initiated by the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group, which itself was set up in response to the Gulf of Mexico disaster in 2010, in which the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and 11 men were killed.
Lead CSB investigator Cheryl MacKenzie, said: “This trip is a key fact-finding effort in preparation for the CSB’s July 23-24 public hearing on process safety indicators that could be used offshore in the US to assist industry and regulators in improving safety performance.”