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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/aug 2014 :: RMTnews
5
R
MT has backed calls for a
full, independent enquiry
into helicopter safety in the
North Sea after parliamentary
report demanded to know if
commercial pressure from oil
and gas companies effected
safety levels.
The Transport Select
Committee of MPs said that any
inquiry must also examine the
role of the Civil Aviation
Authority following another
deadly accident on August 23
last year when a helicopter
crashed into the sea near
Shetland, killing four passengers.
Transport Committee chair
Louise Ellman said that after
four accidents in five years,
offshore workers’ confidence in
helicopter safety was
understandably low.
“The role and effectiveness of
the CAA has not been adequately
examined and only a full and
independent public inquiry
would have the power and
authority to investigate
properly,” she said.
Acting RMT general secretary
Mick Cash backed the call for a
public inquiry as well as looking
at the case for adopting
Norwegian safety standards.
“The latest tragedy illustrates
how safety is compromised by
helicopter operators who are not
held to effective, industry wide
standards, including in the
contractual relationship with
their customers – the oil and gas
companies.
“There are now no excuses for
the government and the
employers, they must take
immediate steps to reduce the
threat to offshore workers’ safety
and to listen to offshore workers’
concerns about the safety of the
helicopters they rely on,” he said.
Ms Ellman reported that
survivors of the Sumburgh crash
had not used the emergency
breathing system provided on
the helicopter because the
information given to them by
the safety video was flawed.
“It is appalling that it took a
fatal accident in such
circumstances before
inadequacies in safety briefing
were identified.
“Workers in the offshore
industry have the right to know
everything possible is being done
to keep them safe,” she said.
Offshore RMT regional
organiser Jake Molloy said that
workers were inevitably
concerned about the potential for
cost-cutting to impact on safety.
“Only an open, public inquiry
will dispel those concerns about
deregulation generally and the
potential for that to occur
through the stewardship of
European Aviation Standards
Authority is very real,” he said.
MPS DEMAND INQUIRY INTO
OFFSHORE HELICOPTER SAFETY
House of Commons report raises questions about
safety in the offshore energy sector