A new campaign aimed at improving North Sea helicopter safety is officially being launched in Aberdeen today.
Trade union Unite has called for industry body Oil and Gas UK to implement a raft of improvements following a survey which showed more than half of offshore workers are not confident in the safety of aircraft.
A total of 81% of 532 people questioned said their level of confidence in helicopter flight had decreased in the last 12 months. The survey was carried out after the Super Puma crash off Shetland in August which left four people dead.
There have been four other helicopter accidents in the North Sea since 2009.
The Back Home Safe campaign is calling for increased investment to create a larger offshore fleet – a call backed by 95% of workers.
A total of 94% of respondents said they were in favour of changes to the internal seat configuration on offshore helicopters to aid evacuation, and 93% said they wanted changes to the design of aircraft used for passenger transfer.
The survey showed 89% of workers wanted internal emergency lighting fitted to helicopters.
Unite has urged Oil and Gas UK to provide safer emergency lighting and seating configuration in helicopters and to implement all the safety recommendations from past incidents.
The union is calling for an independent review to improve contingencies in the event of a ditching, to maximise the survival time for workers, and for improved survival equipment and training for workers.
Unite regional officer Tommy Campbell said: “Offshore workers have spoken and clearly stated their legitimate concerns.
“Over 1,500 offshore workers have already backed Unite’s demands and we expect many more to pledge their support before the petition is submitted to Oil and Gas UK in December.
“Overwhelmingly offshore workers are demanding action from the industry to improve the safety of offshore helicopter flight. Oil and Gas UK must now act.”
Oil & Gas UK last night acknowledged the concerns raised by Unite and said they were taking them very seriously.
A spokesman said: “Oil & Gas UK is working closely with Step Change in Safety, who is aware of similar concerns raised by the workforce, with the helicopter operators to review the emergency lighting inside the passenger cabin and with Eurocopter to review the seating configuration of the EC225.”
Robert Paterson, Oil & Gas health and safety director, said: “Helideck lighting was raised as an issue after an incident involving a helicopter in February 2009. The CAA issued further guidance for improvements to the helideck circle and industry trials are near completion.”
The European Aviation Safety Agency is currently reviewing helicopter flotation arrangements including whether it can be configured to enable a helicopter to float on its side, following a controlled landing on water.