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Health and Safety Executive

How offshore helicopter travel is regulated

Safety - the top priority Helicopter operators must satisfy CAA that they continue to meet the requirements for The helicopter is known as the workhorse safe public transport passenger operations. of the UK offshore oil and gas industry They demonstrate this by holding an Air because it is the primary means of Operator’s Certificate (AOC), which requires transporting workers to and from operators to publish detailed operational installations. procedures in the company’s Operations Manual. They are also responsible for the Millions of flights have taken place since safety briefing of passengers and, in the 1960s. The safety record is good, but conjunction with offshore duty holders, for accidents and fatalities have occurred. providing certain personal safety equipment There can never be room for complacency aboard the aircraft. with offshore helicopter safety, particularly in the harsh environment in which Helicopter operators have a duty under the helicopters operate. That is why the Air Navigation Order (ANO) to only permit arrangements to ensure the safety of flights to suitable landing areas. The offshore helicopter operations are so Helideck Certification Agency (HCA) acts important. This leaflet describes those on behalf of the helicopter operators for arrangements, and how they are regulated. inspection of all helidecks operating in the UKCS and, together with them, ensures the Who is responsible for safety? application of operational limitations and/or restrictions where appropriate. While the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Civil Aviation Authority Flight crews are regulated by CAA in various (CAA) are responsible for regulating safety, aspects including licensing, training and the actual achievement of safety is the testing requirements, and flight and duty- responsibility of all of those on whom the time limitations. law places a duty, including: Installation operators are responsible for the ■ helicopter operators; safety of the entire installation, including the ■ flight crews; helideck and helideck operations. They are ■ installation operators; required to ensure that the helideck ■ offshore workforce. operating environment is such that helicopter operators can discharge their duties.

Installation operators have control over the CAA physical characteristics of the helideck, the levels and manning of the rescue and fire- CAA is a statutory corporation and consists fighting facilities and communications. of several groups. The Safety Regulation They are required to ensure that competent Group is responsible for regulating the personnel are assigned to all activities on airworthiness and operational safety of an the helideck during helicopter operations. aircraft, including its passengers. They must also have a weather policy in place for passenger safety on the helideck Under the Civil Aviation Act 1982, CAA is and for passenger survival and rescue in the responsible for the operation of the ANO. event of an incident occurring. This governs the airworthiness of helicopters and the technical and It is very important that individuals act in a operational requirements that must be met. responsible way and comply with It also lays down the requirements for the requirements specified by helicopter issue of an AOC that helicopter operators operators and installation operators. must hold if they are to transport members of the public. Who regulates the system? CAA has no duty under the Air Navigation CAA regulates aviation legislation. HSE Order to license offshore helidecks. regulates health and safety law. They work However, to assist helicopter operators and together, with industry and others, to make the HCA to discharge their duty under the sure that provisions for safety are as ANO, CAA provides ‘good practice’ compatible and complete as possible. A guidance (known as CAP 437). This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) includes criteria helidecks should meet and exists between HSE and CAA to ensure other information enabling operators to they work together effectively. comply with their legal obligations. HSE accepts that conformance with CAP 437 demonstrates compliance with their applicable offshore regulations.

HSE HSE inspectors visit offshore installations on a regular basis to inspect all aspects of The Health and Safety at Work etc Act health and safety, including helidecks and 1974 is the main legislation providing for helideck operations. During these visits the the health and safety of workers offshore. inspectors discuss safety with appointed It also brings into its scope earlier safety representatives and individuals who legislation developed by the Department of may wish to raise issues with them. Energy with specific requirements relating to helidecks on offshore installations and Other organisations helicopter operations. In the event of an incident involving a The Offshore Installations (Safety Case) helicopter there may be additional agencies Regulations 1992, among other things, involved. Search and rescue facilities are require installation operators to identify all mainly the responsibility of the Department hazards which could cause a major for Transport and its executive agency the accident, including helicopter accidents, and Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). to take measures to reduce the risks to as HSE’s publication Dealing with offshore low as is reasonably practicable. emergencies (see Further reading) sets out the respective roles of the various These Regulations are supported by the government departments and agencies that following goal-setting offshore legislation may become involved. which includes requirements on the safety of helidecks and helideck operations:

■ Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995; ■ Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995; ■ Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc) Regulations 1996.

Working together There are a number of examples of practical co-operation between HSE and In addition to co-operating with other CAA, and with industry bodies, including: government agencies with a role to play in offshore safety, CAA and HSE work ■ the industry and trade unions are together closely on offshore helicopter consulted on proposals for new issues. These include: regulations and guidance affecting offshore helicopter travel; ■ policy development; ■ numerous research projects have been ■ operational matters; carried out by HSE, CAA and industry, ■ research; including, most recently, development ■ development of guidance for industry; and issue of the Helideck Design ■ accident investigation (in conjunction Guidelines, which were endorsed by with the Air Accidents Investigation OIAC HLG. Branch of the Department for Transport).

In addition to regular policy and operational contacts at various levels, HSE and CAA meet several times each year to discuss major offshore helicopter safety issues. The two organisations also come together in the twice-yearly meetings of the Offshore Industry Advisory Committee Helicopter Liaison Group (OIAC HLG). Industry employer organisations and trade unions are also members of this committee.

Health and Safety Executive

Further reading Further information

HSE, supported by CAA, have For information about health and safety, or commissioned a report on the safety record to report inconsistencies or inaccuracies in of UKCS helicopter operations compared to this guidance, visit www.hse.gov.uk/. You various other modes of transport. It can be can view HSE guidance online and order found on the HSE website at: priced publications from the website. HSE www.hse.gov.uk/offshore priced publications are also available from bookshops. You can also contact: This leaflet contains notes on good practice Hazardous Installations Directorate which are not compulsory but which you Offshore Division may find helpful in considering what you Lord Cullen House need to do. Fraser Place Aberdeen AB25 3UB A web version can be found at: Tel: 01224 252500 www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg219.pdf.

CAA Flight Operations Inspectorate © Crown copyright If you wish to reuse (Helicopters) this information visit Safety Regulation Group www.hse.gov.uk/copyright.htm for details. Floor 1W, Aviation House First published 11/05. Gatwick Airport South West Sussex RH6 0YR Tel: 01293 573696 CAA website (for publications): www.caa.co.uk

Publications

Dealing with offshore emergencies: A guide to the roles and responsibilities of the Government departments and agencies that may become involved in emergencies in the offshore oil and gas industry HSG142 (Second edition) HSE Books 2003 ISBN 0 7176 2684 9

INDG219(rev1) 09/11 Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive