The Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Safety case for production installation

17.—(1) Subject to Schedule 15, the operator of a production installation shall ensure that it is not operated in external waters unless—

(a) the operator has prepared a safety case containing the particulars specified in regulation 16 and Schedule 7;

(b) the operator has sent the safety case to the competent authority at least six months (or such shorter period as the competent authority may specify) before commencing operation; and

(c) the competent authority has accepted the safety case.

(2) A safety case prepared pursuant to paragraph (1) and revisions to a current safety case prepared pursuant to regulation 19(7) may be prepared in relation to more than one production installation where the competent authority so approves in writing and, where a safety case is or revisions are to be so prepared in relation to installations with different operators, it is sufficient compliance with paragraph (1)(a) and (b) and regulation 19(7)(a) and (b) if the operators prepare and agree a safety case or revisions containing the particulars referred to in that paragraph and that regulation and one of them sends it to the competent authority in accordance with paragraph (1)(b) and regulation 19(7)(b).

(3) The operator of a production installation shall include with the safety case sent to the competent authority a statement, made after considering any reports or reservations of the verifier under regulation 9(2)(d), (3)(b) and (4)(c), that the record of safety and environmental-critical elements and their scheme of maintenance are or will be suitable.

(4) Where, pursuant to paragraph (2), a safety case is to be prepared in relation to more than one production installation, each with a different operator, there shall be included with the safety case—

(a) where one is required under regulation 7, a copy of the corporate major accident prevention policy of each operator;

(b) an adequate description of the safety and environmental management system of each operator; and

(c) the description of the internal emergency response arrangements of each operator.