BSEE launches web-based dashboard for safety data
A new web-based dashboard is now available to industry and the public as part of the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) SafeOCS Reporting System.
The dashboard represents data collected from 2018 to 2020 and over 11,900 consolidated, voluntarily reported events, including incident reports, event narratives, and contractor and operator information. It allows operators to compare their confidential submissions with aggregated data from all participants to better identify safety risks and address them before an incident occurs.
Working with the BTS and other industry collaborators, BSEE began the SafeOCS program in August 2013 for confidential reporting of safety data on the OCS. The dashboard increases transparency and improves companies’ ability to follow trends, improve inspection planning, and see meaningful relationships in process safety and personal safety.
Click here to access the BSEE/BTS SafeOCS dashboard.
US SEC looks to bolster cybersecurity risk management
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is proposing rules to enhance and standardize disclosures regarding cybersecurity risk management, strategy, governance and cybersecurity incident reporting by public companies.
Specifically, the commission is looking at amendments that require current reporting about material cybersecurity incidents. The proposal would also require periodic disclosures about a company’s policies and procedures to identify and manage cybersecurity risks, management’s role in implementing cybersecurity policies and procedures, its board of directors’ cybersecurity expertise (if any) and its oversight of cybersecurity risk. It would also require companies to provide updates about previously reported cybersecurity incidents in their periodic reports.
In its release of the proposal in the US Federal Register on 23 March, the SEC said the rules would better inform investors about a registrant’s risk management, strategy and governance, and provide timely notification of material cybersecurity incidents.
Click here to read the SEC’s proposal for disclosures on cybersecurity risk.
IADC supports House Natural Resources energy bills
On 30 March, the US House Natural Resources Committee introduced six bills that would bolster the US energy sector and give regulatory certainty to drilling contractors. Among many things, these bills would address well-known oil and gas permitting delays facing the US Department of Interior, as well as end the Biden Administration’s ban on federal onshore and offshore oil and gas leasing.
IADC President Jason McFarland issued the following statement: “At a time in which the United States and nations around the world are facing rampantly growing energy scarcity and fuel prices, these bills are textbook examples of the type of legislation needed to support rig owners and ramp up drilling.
“On behalf of IADC’s member companies and the hundreds of thousands of workers they employ, I’d like to thank Ranking Member (Bruce) Westerman and Representatives (Garret) Graves, (Jerry) Carl, (Blake) Moore, (Beth) Van Duyne, (Yvette) Herrell and (Matt) Rosendale for their continued support of good-sense energy policy, and for recognizing the urgent need to boost exploration, drilling and production in the North American market.”
OSHA proposes changes to regulations for recording occupational hazards
The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed amendments to its occupational injury and illness record-keeping regulation, 29 CFR 1904.41.
The current regulation requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness information – which they are required to keep – to OSHA. The agency uses these reports to identify and respond to emerging hazards. It also makes aspects of the information publicly available.
Under the proposed rule, not only would companies have to report their annual summary of work-related injuries and illnesses, certain establishments in certain high-hazard industries would also be required to electronically submit additional information from their Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, as well as their Injury and Illness Incident Report.
OSHA said in a statement that the proposed rule would improve its ability “to use its enforcement and compliance assistance resources to identify workplaces where workers are at high risk.” It also believes the amendments would empower workers by increasing transparency in the workforce. The rule would:
Require establishments with 100 or more employees in certain high-hazard industries to electronically submit information from their OSHA Forms 300, 301 and 300A to OSHA once a year;
Update the classification system used to determine the list of industries covered by the electronic submission requirement;
Remove the current requirement for establishments with 250 or more employees not in a designated industry to electronically submit information from their Form 300A to OSHA annually; and
Require establishments to include their company name when making electronic submissions to OSHA.
Click here to learn more about OSHA’s proposed amendments.
