Offshore Safety Regulations in Norway: From Model to Systems in Erosion

Abstract

There are indications that the Norwegian oil province has experienced a decrease in incidents since the introduction of its external control system, which gives industry an important role in setting and maintaining safety standards. This article argues that much of the veneration of the Norwegian model is based on a misreading of the Norwegian offshore health and safety system. The author suggests that improvements in offshore safety in Norway were not caused by the adoption of the internal control system alone, but rather by a number of factors which included the introduction of the stringent Norwegian Work Environment Act, which gives union representatives the right to stop work when they feel safety is jeopardized, as well as the maintenance of strong offshore unions with a comprehensive network of trade union-appointed safety representatives.

Why Is the Construction Industry Killing More Workers Than the Offshore Petroleum Industry in Occupational Accidents?

“…The Ekofisk Alpha fire and lifeboat accident in 1975 and the Bravo blowout in 1977 were events that paved the way for Norway's Work Environment Act of 1977 [40]. The safety regulations also provided the workers' unions with a strong platform for collective bargaining and the right to stop work when working conditions offshore were deemed unsafe [41]. Another event that had a massive impact on the industry was the Aleksander Kielland accident in 1980 [26].…”

Norwegian workforce involvement in safety offshore

“…Moreover, unions are thoroughly integrated into the safety regime, reflecting the emphasis on tripartite decision making in Norwegian public policy. Although there is some coverage of Norwegian worker involvement in the context of regulatory reform (Cooper, 1997;Hart, 2000a;Ryggvik, 1998Ryggvik, , 2000Woolfson and Beck, 2000;Woolfson et al, 1996Woolfson et al, , 1998, the aim of this paper is to explore the views of the participants involved in Norway's offshore safety regime.…”