OMAHAC Minutes September 2021

Unite, Teams Meeting, 1300-1530
Chair: John Boland, Unite the Union

Attendees: Chris Flint, HSE; Katherine Meffen, OGUK; Howard Harte, HSE; Stuart Clow, IADC; Jim House, MCA; Gillian Simpson, SCiS; Katrina Ross, BROA; Trevor Stapleton, OGUK; John Boland, Unite Jake Molloy, RMT; Guy Heaton, OPRED; Pete Lowson, MCA; Katie Lowit, Unite

Apologies: Wendy Kennedy, OPRED; Andrew Taylor, OPRED; Bryan Monson, HSENI; Gwilym Stone, MCA; Margaret Fitzgerald, IMCA

1. Introductions and call for AOAB - Unite

JB welcomed attendees, shared the agenda and requested that any AOAB items be raised during the attendees’ introductions.

No additional AOAB

2. Review of Actions and Minutes of Meeting - Unite

The group agreed that they had reviewed and approved the draft minutes as a true reflection of the December 2020 OMAHAC meeting.
Action Review: JB went through the open actions on the list and the group defined current status. Full action list will be shared with minutes.

TS- update on long term spill response.

Training and support is being developed for fishermen in the event of an oil spill.

UK, Denmark, Norway, Ireland and Germany are collectively drawing up a military response agreement for the event of a major oil spill.

Updated ways of working as been sent round the group, all confirmed that they were happy with the document. CF commented that OSDR has been rebranded as OMAR and the document should be changed to reflect this.

JB suggested that aims and objectives of the advisory committee should be added to the agenda.

Updated OMAHAC Terms of reference was also sent round the group. TS drew attention to the last bullet point- EERTAG is now being overseen by OMAHAC.

3. Member Organisation Updates - All

HSE

CF- Net Zero Program board has been set up to represent all divisions.

They are working on any regulatory or guidance gaps and working on how to support the government with any Net Zero discussions.

They are involved in the safety of the use of hydrogen and on reassuring the public of its safety.

HCR Performance- CF

The last quarter of 2020 showed 55 minors, 39 significants and no major incidents. This is a reduction on 2019, which has 72 minor incidents, 53 significant and 3 major.
A reduction in the number of HCR is positive but we shouldn’t focus solely on the numbers, it’s important to understand what is causing these releases to occur and implement any lessons learned. Due to COVID, 2020 was also a special year that may have distorted the numbers due to lower levels of activity.
In terms of the Loss of Containment IG scores, there have been a greater number of inspections scores of 40 / 50 compared to previous years. So although HCR numbers have reduced, the average score for an inspection has got worse over the last few years, indicating that barrier management performance is decreasing. This may be a combination of poorer performance in the industry combined with HSE having more targeted and consistent inspections
No major HCR in 2020
But still some work to do in relation to operational integrity failures. The industry has embarked on a series of improvement initiatives and has published new guidance.
Industry have published new guidance relating to Audit & Assurance and Role of the Technical Authority. Discussions are also ongoing in relation to establishing training & competency requirements for Isolating Authorities and new guidance on Safe Isolation and Reinstatement of Plant. Energy Institute are also currently working on a new guidance document relating to plant reinstatement.

Process Safety Leadership Principles- CF

Selected duty holders for end 2021/22 and 2022/23
8 inspections to be carried out- 3 in 2021/22 and 5 in 2022/23
Duty holders targeted from internal review of HSE intelligence over last few years performance.
Next one planned for end November.
Engagement with key stakeholders, OGUK, Step Change, Asset Integrity Task Group, etc.
The methodology used is the Major Hazard Intervention Leadership Tool. major-hazard-leadership-intervention-tool.pdf (hse.gov.uk)

Maintenance Backlog- CF

Maintenance backlog is still a concern for HSE, particularly as a result of the build up as a result of COVID.
HSE is continuing to focus inspection resources on reviewing backlogs and remedial actions.
HSE is also supporting the OGUK WG on maintenance backlog.

JB- Questioned if there was a link between the maintenance backlog and increase in barrier management score?

HH- Not a definite connection but it could be part of the issue.

Inspections Guides Update- HH

A series of offshore inspection guides have been developed to improve the consistency and transparency of offshore inspection activities.
New guides published during 2021.
- Audit, Monitoring and Review - Jan 2021
- Cyber Security - March 2021
- Human Factors - March 2021
- Active Fire Protection - September 2021
Diving should be published in October 2021.
Shortly out for consultation, Health Risk Management, COSHH and Potable Water Management.
Inspection guides can be found at HSE Offshore: Inspection
They are based on onshore inspection guides- this provides consistency between offshore and onshore.
HSE to share and discuss with StepChange.

MCA- Maritime Coastal Agency

PL- Coast Guard training exercises being conducted both offshore and onshore with support from the MCA.

Incident stats for 2021- injuries have risen by 3%
There have been reports of power failures offshore but nothing major.
MCA are being involved in the decommissioning process.
Renewables- there are been a minor increase in the number of incidents involving renewable energy. Additional support needs to be in place for Maritime Safety. They are currently looking into traffic monitoring around larger windfarms and working with the emergency services on emergency response for renewables.

OPRED

GH- There has been a change in the senior management position in OPRED- Tom Child is now the chief exec of OPRED.

They are currently recruiting to deal with the challenges of Net Zero.
They now have feedback from the OMAR survey and are in the process of analysing this feedback.
National Contingency Plan exercise scheduled for 2022.
Decommissioning and nesting birds are causing a hold up in work scope.
They are putting in safe guards to protect wildlife.
Integrated response system to give broader understanding of what is happening within the industry to give more detailed reports.

RMT

Issues all seem to be derived from Covid.
Single occupancy offshore was seen as a positive thing overall and the workforce aren’t happy to go back to cabin sharing.
Issues with employers demanding their workforce be double vaccinated.
Some of the workforce who were made redundant from oil and gas are finding work with renewables but there have been reports that there seem to be lower safety standards for work boats and crew on the wind farms and renewable sites.

CF- happy to raise the issue of standards with the HSE renewables team

Unite

Staffing issues- due to redundancy staff numbers are low and more individuals are being required to take on several ERT roles at once, some taking on up to 3 ERT roles each.
Maintenance backlog- concern about the long term effect of the maintenance back log and maintenance deferral.

BROA- KR

Covid has had a huge impact on operations.
They are having manning issues because they are moving in and out of UK waters and so in some instances it is deemed foreign travel.
Decarbonisation: there is a report being compiled on how companies are going to deal with emissions and how they can be better regulated. It also sets out how vessels will be powered with renewable energy and how safety will be implemented. There are also issues around training.
Issue with the helidecks- there is a clash between the stakeholders and the regulatory bodies.

JM to invite KR to a meeting with the offshore helicopter safety group.

TS- CAA have a helideck committee attended by helicopter operators and CAA, HSE have requested to join.

IADAC- SC

New Administrator for the chapter Rochelle Sanders who replaces Louise MacDonald.
Primary members still working from home, some at looking at moving back into the office next month
IADC have a new video which can be purchased on line, Maritime Cybersecurity Awareness. This Maritime Cybersecurity Awareness Training teaches employees to be aware of the most common attacks, how to put effective safeguards into practice, and what to consider when implementing cybersecurity into the SMS.
IADC continue to hold conferences throughout the world virtually, with the option to attend in person. Recently had HSE & Sustainability in Amsterdam with about 50 people attending in person
New online learning tool, called KREW, Knowledge Retention & Education for our Workforce. The system addresses well-researched knowledge decay issues, particularly during the two-year period between required training.
KREW is more than a learning platform. It’s an entire continuous-learning system that provides the tools necessary to help well control personnel retain and enhance the knowledge necessary to maintain well control.
KREW on the IADC website
As an entire system, it connects on-the-go learning tools with critical content to enhance on-the-job skill sets. The content is focused on high-risk well control topics within WellSharp curriculum
IADC Subsea Competence Assessment Program®, new program which has just gone live. Developed collaboratively by Operators, Drilling Contractors and Professional Trainers, more information on the IADC website.
Mentioned at the last meeting, the potentially to carry out drills with Police Scotland utilising a members drilling unit, this went ahead last May on a Jack Up in Dundee, very successful with positive feedback from Police Scotland with lots of learning opportunities, especially with COP 26 approaching soon
WELL CONTROL ALERT - use of Primary Well Control Pathway
Market is picking up for next year with several members picking up new contracts, Well Safes contract for 14 subsea wells with Repsol, Valaris signed new contract for one of it's jack ups, CNOOC are putting out tenders

IMCA- Margaret not present at the meeting.

OGUK- TS

There has been a task group set up by the energy institute for offshore and onshore to provide training and guidance on good practice for isolation.

Maintenance Backlog

A task force to address the maintenance backlog will be held on the 13th of October.
The focus will be on gaps and coming up with gap closure plans.
Then meeting with senior leaders on the 14th of October.

Major Accidents and Hazards

Looking at how major accidents and hazards may change with the introduction of hydrogen- a report is to come out in October.
Keeping an eye on adverse weather

JB- Expressed concerns about the maintenance deferrals

TS- Deferrals can be made by operators if they have assessed the risks. Covid cannot be blamed for the backlog as it was increasing anyway.

HH- agreed that this was an ongoing problem and some operators manage it well whilst others do not. HSE intervene and try to get operators to manage it betters, there is a working group in place to try to get on top of it.

CF- They are collating data to see where the biggest problems are.

EERTAG Update- TS

Meets 3 times a year and participation is good.
There are a list of companies involved on the HSE website.
EERTAG reports to OMAHAC.

JB- requested that minutes be sent to OMAHAC members. TS agreed.

Step Change- GS

The theme for the third quarter is about Major Accidents Understanding.
They have created a joined up thinking film about barriers to prevent carbon releases and mini moments about safety- series of blogs. This can be found on the Step Change website.
They have a quiz on Friday 1st October at 8pm, via Zoom. The winning team can choose a charity to have a donation made to.
The theme for Q4 is Personal Responsibility for Safety
2022 Quarterly Themes:
- Q1- Process Safety Fundamentals
- Q2- Human performance and factors
- Q3- Prevention of personal injuries- looking at slips, trips, COSH etc.
- Q4- Mental Health Awareness- to coincide with Mental Health Awareness month in October.

4. Cabin Sharing - All

TS- A survey about cabin sharing was distributed before Covid and they had a mixed response. Due to Covid the survey was dropped.

JB- 2+1 was supposed to be a temporary measure.

There were record lows of poor mental and physical health offshore last year, due to single cabin occupancy.
We need to look at the issue of mental health problems caused by cabin sharing.
Workers have reported that it impacts their time at home as well because they are not rested and they need time once back onshore to readjust.

HH- 2+1 was introduced to help reduce the maintenance backlog.

But no one signed up for it to become permanent.
Only one duty holder has it in place permanently.
StepChange and OGUK working group to be set up to discuss the 2+1 cabin sharing.

TS- There needs to be a balance of risks and benefits. Wellbeing and mental health of
workers on one hand and need to reduce the maintenance backlog on the other.

CF- OGUK should get feedback from the survey and meet with StepChange to discuss. This should be an item on the agenda for the next meeting.

5. Committee Governance

Terms of governance were covered earlier in the meeting.

6. AOAB

CF brought up Foinaven issue.

JB- a number of assets are significantly aged.

CF- they need to draw a line and make a decision about assets that don’t comply. Are they safe to stay in operation? Installations cannot be allowed to continuing operating with essential repairs and if it is not worth the repairs then there is the possibility of decommissioning.

The subject of the next meeting date was raised.

CF suggested that OMAHAC should meet 2 times per year.

JB suggested March for the next meeting

TS suggests that the 22nd and 23rd of March are avoided as this is the OGUK HSE conference.

CF- Aims and objectives of the next meeting should include backlog maintenance and cabin sharing.

Meeting was closed.