US Bureau of Labor statistics reports census of fatal occupational injuries
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported preliminary results from the 2013 National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Mining, quarryibg and oil and gas extraction had the third highest fatal work injury rate at 12.3 per 100k FTE.
The preliminary number of fatalities in oil and gas extraction, which has been a particular area of concern for OSHA, declined nearly 19 percent from 2012’s preliminary level.
Click here for full census data and more information via the US Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
US Department of Energy issues energy Sector cybersecurity framework implementation guidance
The US Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the availability of the draft document, Energy Sector Cybersecurity Framework Implementation Guidance.
The Guidance is a product of a collaborative effort with the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council and the Oil & Natural Gas Subsector Coordinating Council.
The DOE has indicated that is has also coordinated with other Sector Specific Agency representatives and interested government stakeholders for the development of the draft Guidance and to address cross-sector overlaps.
The document helps energy sector stakeholders develop or align existing cybersecurity risk management programs to meet the objectives of the Cybersecurity framework.
Click here to access the full implementation guideance document via the US Department of Energy website.
European commission publishes study on civil liability for offshore accidents
On 14 August, the European Commission published a study on civil liability for offshore accidents in Europe. The study looked at how liability and compensation for bodily injury, property damage and economic loss are handled. It also addresses financial security instruments to cover such damage. The study is part of a Commission fact-finding exercise on the subject under the Offshore Safety Directive and not linked to any future legislative process. In September, IADC participated in a discussino of the findings, hosted by the European Commission.
Click here to access the full document and European Commission study findings.
OSHA Announces new requirements for reporting severe injuries
The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced a Final Rule requiring employers to notify OSHA when an employee is killed on the job or suffers a work-related hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye.
The rule, which updates the list of employers partially exempt from OSHA record-keeping requirements, will go into effect on 1 January, 2015, for all workplaces under federal OSHA jurisdiction.
All employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, even those who are exempt from maintaining injury and illness records, are required to comply with OSHA’s new severe injury and illness reporting requirements.
Click here for more information on the latest requirements for reporting severe injuries via OSHA’s website.
European commission requests harmonized drilling equipment standards
On 3 September, the Commission requested the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (Cenelec) draw up new harmonized standards for machinery.
Where appropriate, they will amend existing European standards in order to ensure better availability of harmonized standards for machinery used in the drilling and well intervention operations in the offshore oil and gas industry. The group is also tasked with determining which standards can be used to support the application of essential health and safety requirements of the Directive 2006/42/EC.
The relevant European standardization organizations are requested to deliver, within 49 months, harmonized standards which cover the safety-critical machinery as listed in the requested work programme.
The Commission has also requested the development of a harmonized standard dealing with the safety of integrated systems (assemblies of machinery) used in offshore drilling processes.
The work program includes hoisting and rotary systems; pipe handling systems; BOP handling equipment; specialized lifting equipment; elevators and safety of integrated systems.
For more information, please contact Alan Spackman at Alan.Spackman@iadc.org.
