The Offshore Safety (Repeals and Modifications) Regulations 1993

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations contain repeals and modifications of the Pipe-lines Act 1962, the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 (“the 1971 Act”), the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975, the Petroleum Act 1987 (“the 1987 Act”) and certain instruments made thereunder.

The Regulations are made in consequence of the coming into force of sections 1 and 2 of the Offshore Safety Act 1992 (“the 1992 Act”) which made provision for Part I of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (“the 1974 Act”) to have effect as if the provisions and instruments referred to in those sections were “existing statutory provisions” within the meaning of that Part.

The Regulations—

(a) repeal the powers to appoint inspectors under the 1971 Act and powers to make regulations in the 1971 Act, the 1975 Act and the 1987 Act, and those powers are now replaced by powers in the 1974 Act;

(b) change various references to the Minister or to the Secretary of State in certain provisions of the Acts and instruments referred to in the first paragraph above to, or to include, the Health and Safety Executive.By virtue of section 18 of the 1974 Act the Executive is the enforcing authority for the provisions which have in effect been made “existing statutory provisions” by the 1992 Act;

(c) insert a provision into the 1987 Act requiring the Health and Safety Commission to submit from time to time to the Secretary of State such proposals as it considers appropriate for the making of orders (relating to safety zones) under section 21 or 22 of that Act;

(d) revoke the Offshore Installations (Public Inquiries) Regulations 1974 and the Submarine Pipe-lines (Diving Operations) Regulations 1976 which are superseded by provisions in and under the 1974 Act; and

(e) modify certain provisions relating to inspectors (regulations 3 to 5).

The Regulations also contain savings provisions (regulation 6).