Identification of Offshore Installations: Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995

  • Operations notice: 39
  • Issue date: February 2019

Introduction

This Notice provides guidance for the clear identification of installations as required by the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995, Regulation 19. It replaces the previous issue dated October 2015. Each installation must be readily identifiable on approach, by sea or air, using unambiguous signage and effective aeronautical communication. This notice should be read in conjunction with the Energy Act 2008, Part 4A Consent to Locate[40].

Background

Helicopter pilots and operators have reported a number of 'wrong rig' landings to the CAA. Instances have occurred when radio call signs, helideck markings and installation side sign identification have been inconsistent. This has led to confusion among pilots in identifying installations and has consequently resulted in potentially serious 'wrong rig' landings.

Action required

Dutyholders should check that the hardware and management systems in place for identification of their installations do not have the potential to cause confusion or ambiguity to any approaching helicopter. It is recommended that, where practicable, the radio call sign, helideck markings and side signage should be identical; helicopter operators should be consulted on their acceptability for flight operations.

If the name of the installation changes, the signage and radio call sign should be promptly modified to show this. All interested parties should be informed.

Relevant legal requirements

The relevant legal requirements are:

  • Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995, Regulation 12 Communication and Regulation 19 Identification of the offshore installation.
  • The Energy Act 2008, Part 4A Consent to Locate

References

This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following the guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. Health and safety inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance as illustrating good practice

Link URLs in this page

  1. Offshore oil and gashttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/index.htm
  2. How we workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/how.htm
  3. Offshore health and safety lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/law.htm
  4. Workforce involvementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/workinvolvement.htm
  5. Unconventional oil and gas exploration (shale gas)https://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/unconventional-gas.htm
  6. Overview - Offshore topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/topics.htm
  7. Accommodationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/accommodation.htm
  8. Ageinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/ageing/index.htm
  9. Corrosion and materialshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/corrosion-and-materials.htm
  10. Offshore divinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/diving.htm
  11. Electrical and control systemshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/controlsystems.htm
  12. Evacuation, escape and rescue (EER)https://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/eer.htm
  13. Fire, explosion and risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/assessment.htm
  14. Human factorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/humanfactors.htm
  15. International liaisonhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/liaison.htm
  16. Marine and aviationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/marineaviation.htm
  17. Maritime integrityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/maritimeintegrity.htm
  18. Mechanical engineeringhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/mechengineering.htm
  19. Occupational healthhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/occupationalhealth.htm
  20. Offshore pipelineshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/pipelines.htm
  21. Process integrityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/processintegrity.htm
  22. Researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/offshoreresearch.htm
  23. Safety caseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/safetycases.htm
  24. Safety management systemshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/managementsystems.htm
  25. Structural integrityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/structuralintegrity.htm
  26. Verificationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/verification.htm
  27. Wellshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/wells.htm
  28. Working timehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/workingtime.htm
  29. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/resources.htm
  30. Overview - Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/publications.htm
  31. Operations noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/notices/index.htm
  32. Safety alerts and noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/notices/index.htm#safety-alerts
  33. Offshore information sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/infosheets/index.htm
  34. Research reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/researchreports.htm
  35. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/index.htm
  36. Offshore charging informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/charging.htm
  37. Key programme final reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/programmereports.htm
  38. Offshore Directivehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/directive.htm
  39. Subscribehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/ebulletin/index.htm
  40. Energy Act 2008, Part 4A Consent to Locatehttps://www.gov.uk/oil-and-gas-offshore-environmental-legislation#the-energy-act-2008-part-4a-consent-to-locate
  41. A guide to the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995 (Second edition)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l70.htm
  42. Guidance on Consent to Locate Application Typeshttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/304399/Consent_to_Locate_application_type_-_guidance.pdf
  43. Standard marking schedule for offshore installationshttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/208141/Standard_Marking_Schedule.pdf
  44. Offshore publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/publications.htm
  45. Research reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/researchreports.htm
  46. Offshore statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/index.htm
  47. Diving micrositehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/diving/index.htm
  48. Pipelines micrositehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pipelines/index.htm
  49. Electricity micrositehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/index.htm
  50. Carbon capture and storage micrositehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/carboncapture/index.htm
  51. Regulating major hazards micrositehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/regulating-major-hazards/index.htm
  52. Safety bulletinhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/index.htm
  53. HSE Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/index.htm
  54. Science and researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/research/index.htm
  55. Charging activitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/charging/index.htm
  56. Health and safety statisticsfile:///J%7C/website/livelive/statistics/index.htm
  57. International Regulators Forumhttp://www.irfoffshoresafety.com/
  58. Institution of Occupational Safety and Healthhttp://www.iosh.co.uk/
Updated 2021-08-13