MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Offshore health and safety laws to be updated

CHANGES are to be made to offshore health and safety legislation.

At a meeting of the Mineral Resources Committee on Tuesday, Director Phyl Rendell said the legislation needs to be updated to mirror the regulations for the North Sea introduced in April 2006.

Mrs Rendell met with officials from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in London in April to discuss the need for modernisation of FIG's legislation and to confirm FIG's need to contract HSE to assess the safety case for rigs working in Falklands waters.

In addition, HSE inspectors need to be appointed on behalf of FIG to inspect installations.

At the meting in London, HSE stressed the need for the Falklands to have current UK Continental Shelf legislation in place when their inspectors undertake checks. The alternative of working to 1998 regulations, Mrs Rendell said, would be confusing and open to error.

Also discussed at the meeting was the Falklands participation in the American Association Petroleum Geologists' international conferences.

Councillor Andrea Clausen said that with the constant shuffling of staff in the large companies which the Falklands wish to attract, it is important to attend annually: "If you miss one year, you miss the boat." (PN)