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BP ‘flouted safety regs on North Sea platform’
Business Digest: Two UK agencies have found oil company falling short of safety standards
A BP oil platform in the North Sea – the Magnus facility, situated north-east of the Shetland Islands – has failed to meet safety rules since 2006, according to a report in the Financial Times.
Three annual inspections by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have found the 27-year-old platform to be in breach of oil spill preparedness regulations.
The Magnus facility has also featured in inspection letters from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), another government agency responsible for monitoring rigs and platforms. According to the FT, records of HSE inspections reveal an insufficient number of lifeboats fit for purpose, defective emergency lights and poor maintenance of walkways and gratings.
In a 2008 document, the HSE inspector criticised BP’s management policy in relation to maintenance and repairs.
BP claims to have addressed the concerns. “Over the past few years the Magnus platform has invested circa £250m upgrading the process facilities. A further £60m of investment is under way to upgrade and replace aged and obsolete equipment over the next three years.”
Read a full report at the Financial Times ·
