Health and Safety Report 2019

HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT 2019

The HSE assigns a severity classification to reported hydrocarbon releases, defining themas eitherminor, significant or major. A minor release has potential to cause serious injuries or a fatality within the immediate vicinity but would not be expected to result in a multiple fatality event or significant escalation. A significant release is one with the potential to cause serious injury or fatality to personnel within the local area and to escalate within that local area — for example, by causing structural damage, secondary leaks or damage to safety systems — while a major release is one with the potential, if ignited, to cause multiple casualties or rapid escalation affecting, for example, other modules, the temporary refuge or escape routes. Figure 3 overleaf shows the total number of reportable hydrocarbon releases in 2018, under the RIDDOR reporting regime and under the EU regulation. The upward trend apparent in the three-year moving average in 2018 is attributable to the number of additional releases reported under the new legislation, as a comparison with Figure 4 demonstrates. The number of significant releases continues to decrease year on year, but major releases have shown an increase in 2018. Figure 4 shows the same data with the additional EU-reportable HCRs excluded to allow for comparison. This shows that the downward trend in HCRs shown in the three-year moving average has plateaued in 2018. If the rate of hydrocarbon releases continues on the current trajectory during 2019 and 2020, there will be an increase for the first time in over a decade. However, in the period shown it is notable that year-on-year increases such as those seen in 2009–10 and 2013 have been followed by improving performance. Nevertheless, industry is not complacent, and further information about current industry activity to prevent HCRs can be found later in this report.

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