Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

1.  These Regulations contain requirements for the management and administration of offshore oil and gas installations, for purposes of health and safety.

2.  The Regulations give effect, in relation to offshore installations in United Kingdom territorial waters adjacent to Northern Ireland—

(a) to the following provisions of Council Directive 92/91/EEC (O.J. No. L348, 28.11.92, p. 9), concerning the minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers in the mineral-extracting industries through drilling:

(i) Articles 3(1)(b), (c) and (d) and 8;

(ii) in Part A of the Annex, parts 2.2, 2.6 (in part) and 2.8; and

(iii) in Part C of the Annex, section 4 (in part); and

(b) to Article 6.3(c) and, in part, to Article 11.2 of Council Directive 89/391/EEC (O.J. No. L183, 29.6.89, p. 1) on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work.

3.  The Regulations make detailed provisions as follows—

(a) most of the duties imposed by the Regulations are on “the duty holder” who is, by definition (see regulation 2(1)), in relation td a fixed installation, the “operator” and, in relation to a mobile installation, the “owner”;

(b) regulation 5 requires the duty holder to notify the Department of Economic Development (“the Department”) of the date of the intended entry or departure of an installation into or from relevant waters; and, where there is a change of duty holder, prohibits the operation of the installation until details have been notified to the Department;

(c) regulation 6 requires the appointment of an installation manager and contains other requirements in relation to him;

(d) regulation 7 empowers the installation manager to take reasonable measures against a person, including his restraint or putting him ashore, for certain health and safety reasons;

(e) regulation 8 requires every person to co-operate with the installation manager, and any other person on whom any duty is placed by these Regulations, so far as is necessary to enable them to comply with “the relevant statutory provisions” within the meaning of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9)); and for certain express purposes with the installation manager and helicopter landing officer. Managers of installations are required to co-operate with each other for certain health and safety reasons;

(f) regulation 9 requires a record to be kept on the installation, and ashore, of persons for the time being on, or working from, the installation;

(g) regulation 10 requires a “permit to work” system on an installation where necessary for the health or safety of persons;

(h) regulation 11 requires the giving of written instructions on procedures to be observed for health and safety reasons;

(i) regulation 12 contains requirements for effective communications;

(j) regulation 13 contains requirements in relation to helideck operations;

(k) regulation 14 requires the keeping of information on the weather and other information;

(l) regulation 15 requires that people on an installation, or engaged in certain specified offshore activities, have access to the address and telephone number of the Department;

(m) regulation 16 contains a requirement for health surveillance of persons engaged in work on an offshore installation;

(n) regulation 17 requires drinking water to be readily available on an installation;

(o) regulation 18 requires that provisions on the installation are of adequate quality;

(p) regulation 19 contains requirements as to the visual identification of an installation;

(q) regulation 20 provides for the granting of certificates of exemption by the Department;

(r) regulation 21 contains provisions relating to the application to offshore installations and associated structures, with modifications and extensions, of the Employers' Liability (Defective Equipment and Compulsory Insurance) (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (S.I. 1972/963. (N.I. 6));

(s) regulation 22 and Schedule 1 repeal or modify certain provisions of the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 (1971 c. 61); and

(t) regulation 23 and Schedule. 2 revoke or modify certain statutory provisions.

4.  A person who contravenes the Regulations is guilty of an offence under Article 31 of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (currently £5,000) or, on conviction on indictment, to a fine.