Control
Safety-Case Assurance
Structured safety arguments, safety-case evidence and SMS assurance.
Documents
- 202631 Mar
Ageing assets and life extension
Guidance on managing ageing assets and extending facility life through lifecycle planning, performance monitoring and integrity assurance. It presents a plan-do-check-act self-assessment framework, ageing modes analysis, competence arrangements and independent verification. Regulatory duties and health and safety representative involvement are discussed, alongside a Northern Endeavour corrosion example.
- 202631 Mar
ALARP in the context of well integrity guidance note
Guidance for titleholders on demonstrating reasonably practicable reduction of well-integrity risks within well operations management plans. It explains gross disproportion, recognised good practice, well-specific risk assessment and precaution under uncertainty. Supported arguments, proportionate analysis and continuing control effectiveness underpin the demonstration; no single methodology is prescribed.
- 202631 Mar
Planning for proactive decommissioning
This information paper explains lifecycle planning for petroleum decommissioning, including progressive removal, permanent well abandonment and increasingly detailed permissioning submissions. It outlines regulatory expectations, alternative end states, long-lead procurement, continued maintenance and changing risk profiles, alongside environmental monitoring and completion reporting to demonstrate that obligations have been met.
- 202631 Mar
Safety case content and level of detail guidance note
Guidance for preparing and assessing offshore petroleum facility safety cases explains appropriate content and proportionate detail. It covers facility descriptions, formal safety assessment, safety-critical controls, performance standards and integrated safety management systems. Emphasis falls on standalone evidence, workforce participation, assessment uncertainty and substantiated ALARP arguments rather than reproducing supporting documents.
- 202631 Mar
Source control planning and procedures information paper
This information paper sets out regulatory expectations for offshore loss-of-well-control preparedness across environment plans, well operations management plans and safety cases. It covers capping-stack selection and deployment, relief-well design and dynamic kill analysis, plume modelling, subsea dispersant supply, water-column monitoring, response-time modelling, coordinated operations and readiness exercises.
- 202618 Mar
Facility definition includes an associated offshore place guideline
Explains how offshore petroleum legislation defines facilities and associated offshore places, including vessel exclusions and regulatory boundaries. Describes operator duties, safety-case acceptance and revision requirements, validation arrangements and contractor risk-management assurance. Also addresses inspector powers, accident notification and conditions governing the safety investigation levy.
- 202522 Dec
Safety case lifecycle management guidance note
Guidance explains regulatory management of facility safety cases from design notification and operator registration through submission, acceptance, revision and withdrawal. It distinguishes internal management of change from changes requiring formal revision, addresses five-yearly reviews and validation-scope agreements, and emphasises maintaining an accurate, continually reviewed account of safety arrangements.
- 202522 Dec
Vessel facilities subject to external hydrocarbon hazards guidance note
Guidance on safety cases for vessel facilities exposed to external hydrocarbon hazards. It addresses facility descriptions, formal safety assessment, ignition prevention, gas detection, emergency shutdown and evacuation arrangements. Supporting analyses examine fire, explosion and emergency-system survivability, while the Montara case illustrates shortcomings in preparedness and external-hazard assessment.
- 2025Dec
The Offshore Health Risk Management Inspection Guide
An umbrella inspection guide for assessing offshore dutyholders’ occupational health and industrial hygiene management. It uses a Plan, Do, Check, Act framework to examine strategies, health risk assessments, competence, control effectiveness and review arrangements. Performance descriptors link compliance findings to enforcement expectations and inform future regulatory inspection priorities.
- 202526 Nov
Control measures and performance standards guidance note
Guidance for offshore facility operators on selecting and assessing controls for major accident risks and establishing verifiable performance standards. It addresses layered protection, common-mode failures, ALARP demonstration, critical operating parameters and lifecycle suitability, linking safety-case documentation with functional testing, monitoring, audit, review and contingency arrangements when controls underperform.
- 202525 Nov
Safety management system guidance note
Guidance on integrating safety management systems with the offshore petroleum safety-case regime. It addresses control effectiveness, workforce competence, work authorisation, change management and continual improvement. Performance standards, monitoring and review underpin assurance, alongside organisational commitment and management of both major accident and occupational risks, including psychosocial hazards.
- 202521 Nov
Emergency planning guidance note
Guidance on emergency planning and safety-case requirements for offshore petroleum facilities. It addresses command arrangements, team competence, medical provision, equipment assurance, communications, evacuation analysis and emergency shutdown. It distinguishes regulatory obligations from suggested approaches and explains performance standards, drills, review and management of planning changes.
- 20257 Nov
Involving the workforce guidance note
Guidance on involving workers in safety-case development, revision and implementation. It addresses participation in formal safety assessments, access to information, consultation records and consideration of feedback. Management commitment, representative structures, dedicated time, cooperation and relevant training underpin the approaches described, with mandatory requirements distinguished from recommendations.
- 202531 Oct
Guidance note damage loss or removal of a technical or other control measure
Explains when operators must notify NOPSEMA of impaired technical or other control measures under dangerous-occurrence requirements. Reporting depends on failure to meet safety-case performance standards and whether those standards expressly permit the impairment. Illustrative examples distinguish reportable failures from permitted redundancy, maintenance tolerances and continued compliance.
- 202530 Oct
Supporting safety studies guidance note
Guidance explains supporting studies for facility safety cases, covering fire and explosion risk analysis, smoke and gas impairment, evacuation, escape and rescue, and emergency-system survivability. It distinguishes regulatory requirements from recommendations and discusses systematic assessment, modelling assumptions, control performance and evidence that risks are reduced as low as reasonably practicable.
- 202529 Oct
Hazard identification guidance note
Guidance on systematic hazard identification for offshore petroleum facilities and its integration with formal safety assessment. It compares HAZOP, task analysis, FMEA, what-if and tree-based methods, explaining their limitations. Workforce participation, documented assumptions, justified exclusions and ongoing review support assessment of major accident hazards and wider health and safety risks.
- 202521 Oct
ALARP guidance note
Guidance for offshore petroleum operators on demonstrating ALARP through safety cases. It examines reasonable practicability, design choices, good practice, standards and proportionate risk analysis. It also addresses uncertainty, justification of control selection, performance standards and ongoing assurance, distinguishing major accident assessment from the broader health and safety responsibilities of the safety management system.
- 202521 Oct
Risk assessment guidance note
Guidance for offshore petroleum operators on assessing major accident and wider health and safety risks. It explains qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative methods, likelihood and consequence analysis, control reliability and uncertainty. Safety-case documentation, ALARP arguments, workforce participation, assessment review and quality assurance underpin selection of appropriate controls.
- 202524 Sep
Validation Guideline
Guidance explains NOPSEMA’s validation requirements for proposed facilities and significant changes. It addresses agreement of scope, selection of safety-critical technical systems, validator independence and competence, and written deliverables. Validation is linked to safety-case acceptance, distinguished from verification, and illustrated through diving-system and well-testing applications.
- 2025Sep
1 - Big people in lifeboats and lifesaving appliances
Guidance for offshore dutyholders on accommodating increasing worker weight and size in evacuation and rescue arrangements. It explains statistical passenger design-weight calculations, capacity adjustments, seating and restraint suitability, and considerations for other lifesaving appliances and medical equipment. It also addresses verification, interim arrangements and safety-case changes.
- 202519 Aug
Operational risk assessment guidance note
Guidance for offshore oil and gas operators on assessing temporary impairment of safety-critical controls and operation outside design limits. It explains hazard identification, qualitative or semi-quantitative risk evaluation, mitigation assurance, cumulative risk, responsibilities and restoration periods. Assessment must not justify predetermined continuation decisions or substitute for managing permanent changes.
- 202512 Jun
Design notification guidance note
Explains design notification requirements for new or significantly altered production facilities and new greenhouse gas facilities. Covers notification triggers, design options, major accident risks, pipeline materials, decommissioning and site conditions. Clarifies independent validation, subsequent safety-case demonstrations and NOPSEMA’s assessment process, which produces written comments rather than acceptance.
- 202512 Jun
Frequently asked questions on operator nomination guideline
This FAQ guideline explains nomination and registration of offshore petroleum facility operators and proposed operators. It addresses who may nominate, NOPSEMA’s decision criteria, registration outcomes and statutory duties. It also explains how safety cases document responsibilities and how operators assure risk management by other parties controlling work.
- 202512 Jun
Replacement of a registered operator for a facility or pipeline guidance note
This guidance explains how facility owners and titleholders nominate a replacement operator and how NOPSEMA registers the change. It sets out operator-specific safety case requirements, transitional arrangements, validation scope and submission timing, including the sequence by which the new safety case takes effect.
- 2025
2 - Integrity management of FPSOs/FSUs
OMAR guidance addresses structural and maritime integrity of UKCS FPSOs and FSUs, drawing on regulatory interventions. It discusses inspection regimes, hull loading, watertight integrity, cargo systems and station keeping, alongside competence, independent verification and safety-case review. Ageing assets and formal life-extension assessments receive particular attention.
- 20241 Dec
Ed Offshore Diving Inspection Guide
Guidance for offshore diving inspectors on examining duty holders’ diving arrangements and judging regulatory compliance. It covers pre-visit documentation, offshore inspections and five-yearly diving management reviews, including contractor competence and system assurance. Enforcement expectations and performance scoring support consistent recording of findings and prioritisation of future interventions.
- 202419 Apr
Renewable Energy Modernization Rule
Unofficial prepublication final rule modernising US offshore renewable energy regulation. It addresses leasing, meteorological buoy approvals, deferred geotechnical investigations and financial assurance, alongside independent project verification, commissioning, inspections and safety management reporting. Agency responses explain adopted changes, rejected proposals and continuing environmental review obligations.
- 2024
Annual offshore statistics and regulatory activity report 2024
Official statistics summarise HSE’s offshore regulatory activity and dutyholder performance during 2024, covering inspections, investigations, safety-case assessments and enforcement. The report analyses dangerous occurrences, hydrocarbon releases and reported injuries, explains severity classifications and workforce-based rates, and identifies reporting changes and limitations affecting historical comparisons.
- 202314 Aug
MODU mooring systems in cyclonic conditions information paper
This information paper examines cyclonic mooring risks for mobile offshore drilling units. It discusses site-specific design return periods, met-ocean and seabed inputs, component degradation, installation assurance and change management. Operational guidance covers line-tension management, inspection performance standards, emergency preparedness and consideration of position monitoring during cyclone evacuation.
- 2023
Annual offshore statistics and regulatory activity report 2023
Official statistics review HSE’s offshore regulatory activity and dutyholder performance during 2023, including inspections, safety-case assessments, enforcement, dangerous occurrences, hydrocarbon releases and reported injuries. The report explains inspection scoring, release classifications and workforce-based injury rates, highlighting provisional data, reporting limitations and restrictions on comparisons with other industries.
- 2022Sep
Operations Notice 84 - SCR2015 and SCR2005: The Dual Regime, Differences in Terminology and Interpretation, and Impact on Guidance Material
Explains the parallel offshore safety-case regimes for UK external and internal waters. It distinguishes major-accident definitions, safety and environmental critical elements, management systems and emergency plans under SCR2015 and SCR2005, and explains how duty holders should interpret existing guidance while terminology is reviewed.
- 2022Aug
Guidance on the provision of accommodation on offshore installations
HSE guidance explains offshore accommodation requirements, covering bed design, cabin space, privacy and overcrowding. It sets conditions for temporary 2+1 occupancy and welfare impact assessments, alongside safety-case changes and workforce consultation. Separate provisions address accommodation support vessels and planned or unplanned overnight stays on normally unattended installations.
- 20228 Jun
Human Factors information paper - Risk migration
Explains how operational trade-offs can gradually erode safety margins, using a well abandonment campaign involving offshore hydrocarbon gas venting. Examines deficient hazard assessment, equipment assurance and modification controls through systems theory, distinguishing possible explanations from verified findings. Introduces guided adaptability to support anticipation, coordinated responses and proactive learning.
- 2022
Annual offshore statistics and regulatory activity report 2022
Official statistics summarise HSE’s offshore regulatory activity and safety performance during 2022, covering inspections, investigations, safety-case assessments, enforcement, dangerous occurrences, hydrocarbon releases and reported injuries. The report explains inspection scoring, release classifications, workforce estimates and reporting changes, including limitations on comparisons with other industries.
- 202116 Dec
Grounding of chemical tanker Key Bora
Investigates Key Bora’s grounding near Kyleakin pier, Scotland, with hull damage and ballast tank flooding but no injury or pollution. Examines inaccurate survey data used for passage planning, ineffective ECDIS use, bridge resource management and deficiencies in pier safety governance, alongside subsequent actions and recommendations.
- 202121 Oct
Management of Hot Surfaces information paper
This information paper examines hot-surface ignition risks from non-electrical equipment in open process areas. It distinguishes hazardous area classification from assessment of large hydrocarbon releases, explains auto-ignition temperature and operating temperature limits, and discusses dispersion modelling, inspection assurance and evaluation of temperature exceedances against facility-specific standards.
- 202119 Mar
Cyber Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS)
Inspection guidance sets out three categories for assessing industrial automation and control system cyber security under NIS and non-NIS arrangements. It combines self-assessment, validation and improvement planning with installation-level assurance. An accompanying assessment pack examines governance, access restrictions, network protection, recovery, staff competence and incident response against OG86.
- 202128 Jan
The Offshore Audit, Monitoring and Review Inspection Guide
An offshore inspection guide for assessing duty holders’ audit, monitoring and review arrangements for major accident hazards. Templates examine assurance planning, auditor independence, competence, barrier coverage, report quality and closure of findings. It also addresses performance evaluation, organisational learning, regulatory success criteria and inspector judgement when assigning overall scores.
- 202114 Jan
Structural response to fire and explosion
Guidance sets out expectations for demonstrating offshore installations’ structural resilience to fire and explosion. It addresses accidental loading, critical elements, temporary refuges, fire partitions, post-explosion door performance and escape tunnels. Particular considerations include floating structures, safety gaps, scaffolding congestion, passive fire protection and combined-operation safety cases.
- 2021Jan
Structural integrity requirements for the decommissioning and dismantlement of fixed offshore installations
Guidance for duty holders on maintaining structural integrity during fixed offshore installation decommissioning and dismantling. It addresses unattended lighthouse mode, re-boarding, strength, lift and stability assessments, structural modifications and final removal. It also explains verification arrangements and differing safety-case expectations for small installation campaigns and larger, more complex dismantling projects.
- 2021
Annual offshore statistics and regulatory activity report 2021
Official statistics review HSE’s offshore regulatory activity and dutyholder performance in 2021, with historical comparisons. The report covers inspections, investigations, safety-case assessments, enforcement, hydrocarbon releases, injuries and occupational disease. It explains provisional data, reporting changes and population-based rates, including why offshore injury rates cannot be compared directly with other sectors.
- 20202 Mar
SECE Management and Verification - Version 2 March 2020
An inspection guide for assessing safety and environmental critical element management and verification on offshore installations. It examines barrier identification, performance standards, competence, change management and independent assurance. Detailed criteria address examination sampling, findings closure, scheme reviews, and interfaces with well examination and classification arrangements.
- 2020
Annual offshore statistics and regulatory activity report 2020
Official statistics summarise HSE’s offshore regulatory activity and dutyholder performance in 2020, alongside dangerous occurrences, hydrocarbon releases, injuries and occupational disease. Historical comparisons accompany explanations of reporting changes, provisional data and workforce denominators. The report also describes inspection prioritisation, enforcement and safety-case assessment requirements.
- 2020
The safe approach, set-up and departure of jack-up rigs to fixed installations (REV 1)
Guidance for duty holders managing jack-up approach, positioning and departure beside fixed offshore installations. It examines collision and hydrocarbon-release risks, pipeline protection, human factors and personnel limits. Site-specific ALARP demonstrations underpin decisions on production shutdown, depressurisation and venting, with live approaches requiring justification of changed circumstances.
- 2019Dec
RR1154 - Ship/Platform Collision Incident Database (2015) for offshore oil and gas installations
Research report updating UKCS vessel–platform collision records for 1996–2015, with separate analysis of near misses. It compares installation types, vessel categories, damage severity and geographical distributions, using operating-installation counts and statistical confidence intervals. Reported collision trends decline, but under-reporting and incomplete records limit interpretation.
- 20195 Jul
Structural Integrity
Inspection guidance for assessing offshore dutyholders’ structural integrity management through data, evaluation, inspection strategy and programme. It sets success criteria and enforcement performance ratings, addresses structural reassessment and ageing assets, and explains how classification surveys and risk-based inspection can support assurance of safety and environmental critical elements.
- 2019Feb
Considerations for Walk to Work and Multi Operation Vessels – Regulatory Guidance
UK regulatory guidance for offshore oil and gas walk-to-work safety cases addresses vessel selection, installation collision resistance, station keeping and task-specific procedures. It examines gangway evacuation availability, contractor competence and combined rescue-vessel arrangements, requiring rescue and recovery capability to remain available throughout operations.
- 2019
Structural response to vessel impact
Guidance explains HSE expectations for assessing offshore installations’ structural response to attendant vessel collisions. It covers structural analysis, damage escalation, safety-case evidence and design criteria for new and existing installations. Simplified techniques and finite element analysis support assessment of impact capacity, vessel displacement and tolerable velocity, with periodic reviews and marine controls where required.
- 201817 Jul
Safety case approvals
Explains NOPSEMA’s offshore petroleum safety-case approval process, including operator responsibilities, independent validation, assessment decisions and ongoing compliance oversight. Describes safety-case contents, risk reduction to ALARP, revision triggers and mandatory workforce consultation, alongside the role of health and safety representatives in workforce participation.
- 2015Dec
The Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc) Regulations 2015. Guidance on Regulations
HSE guidance explains the offshore safety-case regime for oil and gas installations in external waters. It covers submissions, acceptance, notifications, lifecycle reviews and transitional arrangements, alongside independent verification and well examination. Detailed guidance addresses major-accident risk evaluation, environmental protection, management systems, combined operations and emergency arrangements.
- 201420 Nov
Functional safety in the Australian offshore petroleum industry
This technical bulletin explains functional safety risks in programmable and software-based control systems used in Australian offshore petroleum operations. It discusses software design faults, limitations of exhaustive testing, duty-holder obligations and Safety Case demonstrations. Standards-based hazard assessment, validation and ongoing testing are presented as recommended approaches, with equally effective alternatives permitted.
- 201323 Jan
Warning to offshore industry on blocking of data communications in dynamic positioning systems
This alert examines shared-network vulnerabilities in dynamic positioning systems after a diving support vessel drifted off position with divers subsea. A single fault was identified as a probable cause of blocked communications. Duty holders and suppliers should investigate communications architecture and ensure appropriate protection where functions depend on shared media.
- 2012Sep
A guide to the integrity, workplace environment and miscellaneous aspects of the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction etc.) Regulations 1996
HSE guidance explains offshore installation integrity duties across the asset life cycle, alongside workplace and accommodation requirements. It addresses design hazards, operational limits, periodic integrity assessment and reporting significant threats. Workplace provisions cover ergonomic layout, ventilation, lighting, safe access, sanitary facilities and accommodation hygiene.
- 201222 Feb
Bypassing of storage tank features
Inspections identified bypassed safety features on oil and fuel storage tanks, including sight-glass valves held open with zip ties or homemade clips. The alert explains potential inventory release if sight-glass integrity fails, outlines SOLAS requirements, and recommends safeguarding devices, meeting safety-case commitments and considering alternative level measurement arrangements.
- 20123 Jan
Watertight doors and hatches kept open at sea
NOPSEMA reports inspection findings of watertight doors and hatches left open on vessels operating as offshore facilities. The alert explains the implications for watertight integrity and intact and damage stability, clarifies what constitutes being at sea, and reminds operators of compliance, safety-case commitments and personnel responsibilities.
- 201130 Dec
Offshore OHS legislative framework information paper
This information paper explains Australia’s performance-based offshore OHS regime, distinguishing operators’ duties from the regulator’s assurance role. It describes safety-case acceptance, sampled inspections of safety-management implementation, and investigation criteria and enforcement outcomes, with responsibility for safe operation remaining with the facility operator.
- 2011Oct
Planning to do business in the UK offshore oil and gas industry?
Guidance for companies entering the UK offshore oil and gas industry explains goal-setting health and safety law, duty-holder responsibilities and HSE oversight. It outlines safety-case acceptance, independent verification, offshore regulations, contractor and employee duties, incident reporting, and the division of responsibilities for environmental, marine and aviation regulation.
- 2010Mar
A guide to the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005
Explains the 2005 offshore safety-case regulations, including duty-holder responsibilities, submission, acceptance and continuing review. Covers major-accident risk evaluation, contractor management, independent verification of safety-critical elements, well-operation notifications and dismantling revisions. Distinguishes notifications from accepted safety cases and explains that acceptance does not guarantee installation safety.
- 2009Sep
A guide to the well aspects of the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction etc) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations
Explains the well provisions of DCR 1996, covering life-cycle integrity, subsurface assessment, material suitability, well-control equipment and examination schemes. It addresses operator responsibilities, reporting and competence, including suspension and abandonment, and clarifies interfaces with offshore safety cases and installation verification across offshore and land-based operations.
- 2009
Explosion hazards due to spray releases
This offshore information sheet addresses explosion hazards from flammable sprays, mists and aerosols formed through pressurised release, impingement or recondensation. It sets expectations for safety-case reviews, risk ranking and consideration of simple aerosol-generation models, highlighting uncertainties in droplet behaviour and factors affecting ignition and overpressure.
- 2009
Guidance on management of ageing and thorough reviews of ageing installations [PDF 96KB]
Guidance on incorporating offshore installation ageing into five-yearly safety-case reviews and life-extension assessments. It examines equipment condition, remaining life, inspection and maintenance strategies, structural analysis, competence and performance indicators. It also addresses when changes warrant reassessment of fire and explosion hazards and how to evaluate options for degraded equipment.
- 2008Jan
Play your part: how offshore workers help improve health and safety
Guidance on involving offshore workers in health and safety through leadership, consultation, safety representatives and committees. It explains competence development, two-way communication, performance review and workforce participation in safety cases. Company examples and accident case studies illustrate the importance of planning, isolation, handovers and authority to stop unsafe work.
- 2008
Modelling of pool fires in offshore hazard assessments
Guidance on modelling running pool fires on offshore steel decks draws on experiments showing buckling and weld failure. It examines bunding with foam and deluge, and recommends accounting for thermal distortion, lateral fire movement, leakage through decks and wind effects when reviewing fire scenarios and offshore safety cases.
- 2007
Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005 HSE's involvement in the design and construction process (including processing of design notifications)
Explains HSE’s proposed engagement with duty holders during offshore installation design and construction under the 2005 safety case regulations. Covers design notifications, early regulatory dialogue, response milestones and developing inspection plans, linking design-stage involvement with operational safety case assessment and the initial years of operation.
- 2006
Guidance on risk assessment for offshore installations
Guidance for offshore duty holders on proportionate risk assessment supporting safety-case compliance, particularly for fire and explosion hazards. It compares qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantified approaches, explains hazard identification and risk ranking, and addresses risk reduction decisions, uncertainty, documentation, contractor involvement and integration with safety management systems.
- 2005Aug
Collision between aggregates carrier Brenda Prior and DUKW amphibious passenger vehicle Beatrice
Investigation of the collision between Brenda Prior and amphibious passenger craft Beatrice near Lambeth Pier on the River Thames. It examines restricted visibility from ballast trim, ineffective lookouts, VHF monitoring and unreported passage changes. Recommendations address operational procedures, safety management and vessel awareness; passengers remained safe.
- 2003Jul
Positional asphyxia during a vertical chute evacuation drill from ro-ro passenger ferry P&OSL Aquitaine with loss of 1 life
Investigates a fatal evacuation drill aboard P&OSL Aquitaine in Dover Harbour. A volunteer became trapped in a vertical Marin-Ark chute; positional asphyxia was the most likely cause of death. Inspection, reconstruction and video analysis examined lifejacket displacement, rescue difficulties, training and blockage risks, while leaving the precise entrapment sequence unresolved.
- 20031 Apr
Incidents submitted to IMO relating to vessels carrying SMCs
Four shipboard incidents reported to IMO illustrate weaknesses in safety management despite certification: a solvent explosion during tank painting, unintended machinery operation during welding, crane entanglement and an evaporator sight-glass blow-out. Findings address inadequate ventilation, isolation verification, procedural changes and ineffective ship-specific review and internal audit.
- 1990Nov
The Public Inquiry into the Piper Alpha Disaster: Volume 2
This inquiry volume examines offshore safety regulation and management following the Piper Alpha disaster. It develops recommendations for installation Safety Cases, quantitative risk assessment, permit-to-work arrangements, integrated fire and explosion protection, and evacuation and rescue. Technical appendices examine process equipment, gas dispersion, explosion modelling and competing engineering evidence.
- Undated
Dragging anchor and grounding of general cargo vessel Harvest Caroline
Investigation synopsis of Harvest Caroline dragging anchor and grounding at Tanera More in strong northerly winds. Findings address unsuitable anchorage selection, insufficient anchor cable, an absent anchor watch and deficient safety management. It describes passenger evacuation, refloating and towage, revised bridge manning instructions, a watch alarm and recommendations concerning ISM verification.
- Undated
Grounding of container vessel Berit
Berit grounded off Gedser after the second officer missed a planned course alteration. The investigation examines distraction, absent night lookouts, passive electronic chart use and weaknesses in safety management. The reported text-messaging explanation remained unproven. Managers were recommended to review navigational practices, ECS training and personal electronic equipment use.
- Undated
Grounding of emergency towing vessel Anglian Sovereign
Anglian Sovereign grounded near Scalloway after hydrographic survey trials, sustaining severe damage and releasing about 84 tonnes of gas oil. The investigation identifies the master’s alcohol consumption as the major causal factor, alongside deficient navigation, emergency command and safety management. Recommendations address company auditing and charterer verification.
- Undated
Macondo Volume 4 Final Report
Volume 4 examines US offshore safety regulation after Macondo, comparing it with international regulatory models. It assesses gaps in goal-setting risk reduction, contractor accountability, workforce participation, safety-case assurance and performance indicators. Recommendations address proactive oversight, regulatory competence, funding, independence and worker protection, supported by historical incident comparisons.
- Undated
NASA System Safety Handbook, Volume 1
Workshop slides explain NASA’s objectives-led system safety framework, linking adequate safety principles to integrated safety analysis and risk-informed safety cases. They discuss allowance for unknown risks, life-cycle safety claims and the acquirer’s evaluation of evidence and uncertainty. The presentation draws on Volume 1 of NASA’s System Safety Handbook.
- Undated
NASA System Safety Handbook, Volume 2
Guidance for implementing NASA’s system safety framework through Acquirer and Provider roles. It combines integrated safety analysis, probabilistic requirements, safety margins and life-cycle risk management with structured safety cases. Worked examples illustrate reasonably practicable safety decisions, evidence assessment, modelling credibility and independent evaluation of assurance deficits.
- Undated
Safety warning after vertical chute evacuation drill results in loss of 1 life
This MAIB bulletin presents interim recommendations following a fatal vertical-chute evacuation drill in Dover harbour. A volunteer became trapped and lost consciousness during rescue. Recommendations address volunteer fitness, lifejackets that cannot ride up, reassessment of drill and emergency evacuation risks, and removal of potential chute blockages through redesign or other means.