Offshore UK oil, gas leaks fall in 2010-2011

The number of oil and gas leaks and injuries in Britain's offshore energy industry fell in 2010-2011, according to a key report from the nation's safety watchdog. The number of major leaks dropped to 73 incidents in the 12 months to March, compared with 85 in 2009-2010, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said in a statement. Over the same period, there were 432 dangerous incidents reported, down from 443. For the fourth year in a row, there were no workers killed during offshore activities regulated by the watchdog. "This year's statistics are a step in the right direction," said Steve Walker, head of offshore safety at the HSE. "It is encouraging that this is the fourth consecutive year with no reportable fatalities and a reduction in major injuries. But there is much work to be done." BP's devastating and deadly Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster last year had been a "stark reminder" of the need for offshore safety, he added. "The Gulf of Mexico disaster should continue to be a stark reminder of what can go wrong offshore," Walker said. "HSE will remain tough on companies that fail to protect their workforce by not investing in the fabric and workings of their installations or neglecting to implement effective management systems or workforce training."