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A UNION representing offshore workers raised concernstoday after the government admitted that one in four inspections had found poor safety maintenance standards in the North Sea.
The RMT is demanding answers on what’s gone wrong amid a deterioration in safety critical and environmental maintenance standards in the offshore oil and gas industry.
In answer to a written parliamentary question tabled by Stockton North Labour MP Alex Cunningham, the government revealed that one in four inspections carried out by the Health and Safety Executive reported poor standards of safety maintenance on installations. Just three out of 67 inspections found full compliance.
The union said the figures highlighted an escalating threat posed by commercial pressure and light-touch regulation to the safety of offshore oil and gas workers.
The RMT said some companies were going in the wrong direction, increasing environmental and safety risks.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our offshore members are facing existential threats to their industry, not just transition and declining safety standards in a multiple hazard workplace.”
The government was approached for comment.
