Flimsy procedures to blame for leaks, watchdog says
ByDavid McPhee
The Piper Alpha Memorial at Hazlehead Park. 167 men died in 1988 when a leak on the Piper Alpha platform led to a series of explosions.
Weaknesses in procedures aimed at preventing major North Sea gas leaks have been identified in a review by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
But the government agency said great strides had been made by operators to stem hydrocarbon releases.
HSE warned that it had spotted shortcomings in certain crucial areas, including the reinstatement of equipment, adding that it was clear “systems for audit and assurance” remained a priority for improvement.
