Offshore helicopter travel: is the U.K. oil and gas industry failing offshore workers?

Downie, Margaret; Gosling, Denise

Abstract

In the United Kingdom, oil and gas workers have been transported by helicopter to their workplace at offshore installations for over fifty years. During that time, there have been numerous fatal helicopter accidents. Despite calls from trade unions, families and politicians, a public inquiry has never been held into offshore helicopter transport. The authors consider whether enough has been done to ensure the safety of these workers to meet legal and ethical standards. They analyse the legal position, the implementation of recommendations made in the wake of these accidents, and the way in which the power imbalance between oil and gas companies and helicopter operators influences safety in this area. They conclude that a public inquiry is required into helicopter safety in the UK Continental Shelf area (UKCS).

Citation

DOWNIE, M. and GOSLING, D. 2020. Offshore helicopter travel: is the U.K. oil and gas industry failing offshore workers? New solutions: a journal of environmental and occupational health policy [online], 29(4), pages 504-518. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291119887189

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 9, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Nov 9, 2019
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Oct 10, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 10, 2019
• Journal: New solutions: a journal of environmental and occupational health policy
• Print ISSN: 1048-2911
• Electronic ISSN: 1541-3772
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 504-518
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291119887189
• Keywords: Power; Legal; Risk; Safety; Ethics
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/249310