Health and Safety Legislation Consultation
Background – UK Offshore Health and Safety Law
The core UK Health and Safety (H&S) legislation that applies to onshore business activities also applies to offshore energy production; be that oil, gas or wind. This is primarily the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) and supported by the following legislation:
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – Risk assessments, preventive measures, and safety systems
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – Defines roles and responsibilities across project phases
This core UK legislation is extended into UK territorial waters via the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application Outside Great Britain) Order 2013, covering, offshore installations, wells, pipelines, gas importation/storage and energy production from water or wind.
The HSWA has been applied to the Island so it also forms the core of the Island’s H&S legislation.
When considering regulation and enforcement, offshore energy development is primarily regulated by the UK HSE, with marine oversight coordinated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UK HSE, Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), and Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).