Risk and Crisis Management in the Public Sector: Overcoming the Fear Factor: Workforce Involvement and Health and Safety Offshore

Abstract

Despite recent campaigns to present the UK oil and gas industry as one with an ever-improving safety record, there is overwhelming evidence that there hasactually been little or no improvement. The data presented in this article show the degree to which victimization and intimidation of the workforce on offshoreplatforms acts to prevent an open and constructive approach to safety management. A number of particular problems in relation to workforce involvement and the safety representatives and committee system are identified. The article concludes by placing these empirical findings within a policy context.