EU Directive 2013/30/EU
On 19 July 2015 the Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case, etc.) Regulations 2015 (SCR) came into force in the UK, implementing the requirements of EU Directive 2013/30/EU.
The past three decades have seen several major offshore disasters in the oil and gas sector. The EU Directive 2013/30/EU, which was introduced into national regulations in EU member states, aims to minimise the risk of such accidents and limit their consequences, whilst tackling the problem of fragmented regulation throughout the EU.
The main aim of SCR is to reduce the risks from major accident hazards to the health and safety of those employed on offshore installations. It also aims to increase the protection of the marine environment against pollution and ensure the correct mechanisms are in place if such an event were to happen, described Ian Mackay, Technical Manager of Compliance Operations, LR
Lloyds Register were involved with the UK Government technical committee which formulated the UK Safety Case Regulations in the early 90s. We have remained one of the major providers of safety case verification services in the North Sea, explained Mackay, We want to share our knowledge and experience with ministries and newly formed competent authorities, not just in the UK but in all affected states.
Ian Thomas, Department Manager of Consulting Operations in Aberdeen said: The requirement to include environmentally critical elements within the verification scheme is already promoting much debate and is seen to be driving innovation. For example, environmental practitioners are now starting to apply techniques common to safety specialists such as Bow Tie studies to achieve a more systematic and objective method for the identification and management of the environmental component of Safety and Environmentally Critical Elements and Performance Standards.
At Offshore Europe*, we will share some of the knowledge we have gained around the Directive whilst working with independent verifiers and certifiers of environmental management systems and specialist consultants developing SECEs assurance schemes. We will offer guidance on how to interpret the requirements and share our considerations for the identification, classification and management of SECEs stated Thomas.
The Directive is a goal setting regime largely based on the UK Safety Case model. For some, this regime will be unfamiliar but even UK operators will be required to modify existing arrangements and provide additional documentation.
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With respect to the safety of offshore oil and gas operations, the EU faces a threefold problem:
In order to address these issues, the EU Commission has introduced EU Directive 2013/30/EU. Nation states are required to transpose the Directive into national legislation by 19 July 2015. Thereafter there will be a transition period during which operators of new and existing assets will be expected to fully comply with national legislation. The Directive requires nation states to ensure all existing production installations comply by 19 July 2018. Furter details may be found on Lloyd’s Register Energy. Also click here for FAQs regarding the EU Directive: |
*At Offshore Europe 2015, experts from Lloyds Register Energy will help organisations understand the requirements and the pathways to compliance with the EU Directive.
Click below to read theofficial journal of the EUon safety of offshore oil and gas operations:
Source: Lloyds Register Energy
