Topic
Major Accident Management
Management of high-consequence accident scenarios and safeguards.
Documents
- 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.
- 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.
- 20259 Dec
Human error risk reduction to ALARP information paper
This information paper suggests an ALARP-based approach to human error risk in the Australian offshore petroleum industry. It treats error as a barrier-defeating factor and outlines critical-task identification, error classification, performance-shaping factor analysis and control evaluation, distinguishing prevention from recovery and consequence mitigation.
- 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.
- 20257 Nov
Course Descriptor - Refresher HSR training for the offshore petroleum industry
This guideline sets minimum requirements for accredited refresher training for offshore petroleum health and safety representatives. It recommends a one-day course using peer collaboration and case studies, covering legislative updates, risk management and safety cases. Practical learning includes formal safety assessment of major accident events and visualising prevention and mitigation controls.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 20241 Apr
Functional Safety Inspection Guide
Inspection guidance for assessing dutyholders’ management of functional safety against BS EN 61511. It covers lifecycle assessments, competence, SIL allocation and verification, safety requirements, commissioning, proof testing, maintenance and modifications. The Functional Safety Assessment Framework links compliance gaps to performance scores and initial enforcement expectations.
- 20233 Oct
Emergency Response – Version 3 October 2023
An offshore inspection guide for assessing dutyholder emergency arrangements and rating performance. It examines emergency planning, command, communications, muster, evacuation, escape and recovery, distinguishing escape provision from evacuation capacity. Detailed checks address survival-craft capacity, familiarisation, maintenance, emergency lighting and compatibility of protective equipment.
- 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.
- 2023Apr
High concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in cargo and slop tanks
This HSE safety notice addresses hydrogen sulphide in FPSO and FSU cargo and slop tank ullage spaces, including concentrations beyond standard portable instruments’ measuring limits. It discusses exposure during monitoring and releases, corrosion risks, suitable gas monitoring, revised risk assessments, integrity inspection and crew training.
- 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.
- 202111 Aug
Step Change in Safety – Major Accident Hazard (MAH) Awareness
This safety flash introduces a Step Change in Safety mini-alert pack for proactive conversations about barriers to major accidents. Drawing lessons from oil and gas and other industries, the pack outlines accident circumstances and failures, with discussion points linked to the 7 Cs of Safety.
- 202126 Mar
The Offshore Management of Human Factors Inspection Guide
Inspection guidance for assessing human factors management in UKCS offshore oil and gas operations. It sets success criteria for critical task analysis, procedures, competence, fatigue, handovers, staffing, organisational change, interfaces and alarms. Qualitative analysis underpins quantitative assessment, while inspection scoring accounts for the scope inspected and cumulative risk gaps.
- 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.
- 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.
- 202029 Dec
Fixed well control equipment
NOPSEMA identifies gaps in thickness checking and tolerance verification for fixed mud gas separators, choke and kill pipework, and diverter pipework on mobile offshore drilling units. The alert discusses potential major accident consequences and recommends reviewing inspection and maintenance routines, with regular compliance audits.
- 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.
- 201928 Oct
Marine Operations
HSE guidance supports offshore inspectors in assessing dutyholders’ marine operations and assigning compliance ratings. It covers vessel assurance, collision prevention, cargo transfer, rig moves, walk-to-work gangways and multi-role rescue vessels. Inspection criteria examine operational limits, risk assessments, certification and whether additional vessel duties compromise response and rescue capability.
- 2019Jun
Aviation (Helideck Operations)
An offshore inspection guide setting out regulatory responsibilities and success criteria for safe helideck operations. It covers team competence, certification, emergency planning, protective equipment, breathing apparatus monitoring and escape routes. Drone inspection risks and gas-linked wave-off lights are addressed alongside dutyholder performance scoring and enforcement expectations.
- 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
Caisson structural integrity (Rev 1)
Guidance for duty holders managing offshore caisson integrity throughout design, installation and service. It addresses corrosion, fatigue and mechanical damage, including support modelling, internal inspection and integrity databases. Requirements cover risk assessment, inspection planning, maintenance and temporary winter repairs where permanent repairs are not readily available.
- 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.
- 2016Mar
Prevention of fire and explosion, and emergency response on offshore installations
This Approved Code of Practice and accompanying guidance explain PFEER compliance for offshore installations. They address fire and explosion assessment, prevention, detection and protection, alongside emergency command, temporary refuge, evacuation, escape and rescue. Equipment performance, training, maintenance and verification support the arrangements described.
- 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.
- 2012Apr
A guide to the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996
Explains the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 across pipeline design, construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning. Addresses operating limits, pressure testing, containment integrity and emergency shut-down valves, alongside additional duties for major accident hazard pipelines, including prevention documentation, notifications, safety management and emergency planning.
- 201114 Dec
Functional safety of control systems
This alert describes design weaknesses encountered in safety-related control systems across diverse applications. It explains how incorrect control functions can create hazards and highlights potentially hidden risks from programmable devices. Operators should audit systems to identify safety-related functions and assure adequate design, construction and maintenance.
- 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.
- 2010Aug
Early lessons from a tragedy — Process Safety Beacon, August 2010
Using the Deepwater Horizon disaster as a starting point, this bulletin stresses preparedness for major plant incidents while noting that specific causes remain unknown. It encourages recognition of warning signs, understanding of protective procedures, maintenance of emergency equipment and frequent drills to practise individual response roles.
- 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.
- 2008
Verification during decommissioning and dismantling
Guidance on revising offshore verification schemes during decommissioning and dismantling as safety-critical elements and specified plant change. It explains consultation with the independent competent person, phase-based risk assessment, revision before changes, record retention and consideration of additional safeguards when barriers deteriorate. It also clarifies when installation status ends.
- 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.
- 2003Jun
Organisational change and major accident hazards
Guidance for employers managing organisational changes affecting major accident hazards. A three-step framework addresses preparation, risk assessment, and implementation with monitoring. It explains task and responsibility mapping, scenario assessments, workload and competence assurance, contractor oversight, transition planning and performance indicators, alongside sector-specific legal requirements.
- 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
Competence - HSE inspector's toolkit
Inspection guidance examines competence assurance for controlling major accident hazards. It covers role-specific standards, structured on-the-job learning, trainer credibility, assessment, experience and refresher training. Inspection prompts and a question set support examination of records, links to safety-critical tasks, and continuing review of competence arrangements.
- Undated
Cyber Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS) Operational Guidance
Operational guidance helps inspectors assess cyber security for industrial automation and control systems affecting major accidents or essential services. It covers management systems, asset identification, zones and conduits, threat-based assessment and defence in depth. Technical measures address access, segregation, hardening, patching, monitoring and recovery, with cautions about testing operational systems.
- Undated
Organisational change - HSE inspector's toolkit
An inspector’s guide to assessing how organisational changes affect major-hazard control during and after transition. It presents a staged change-management approach and inspection questions covering human reliability, staffing, competence, outsourcing, participative assessment and performance monitoring. It also explains limitations of guidance used to assess staffing adequacy.
- Undated
Temporary Refuge Integrity
Inspection guidance for assessing offshore temporary refuge integrity management. It covers refuge design, impairment frequency, porosity and air-change testing, HVAC performance, ageing, maintenance and emergency planning. It distinguishes envelope tightness from survivability and provides inspection questions and duty holder performance-rating criteria.