Fatality-free 2018 delivers offshore workers home safe for christmas

The independent body responsible for regulating Australia's offshore oil and gas industry says offshore workers will be home safe for Christmas, after the industry recorded another year free of major accident events and fatalities.

CEO of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), Stuart Smith described the results for 2018 as an encouraging continuation of a trend of decreasing rates of serious injuries for the offshore industry.

"Major accidents and dangerous occurrences are now so infrequent in the offshore industry that NOPSEMA is having to rely increasingly on near misses and other leading indicators that accidents could occur," Mr Smith said.

"NOPSEMA continues to take proactive steps to encourage and enforce preventative actions by the industry to reduce the risks of major accidents occurring.

"These steps include the sharing of lessons learned from NOPSEMA's regulatory activities to ensure that safety hazards identified on individual facilities can be effectively managed across the industry.

"The results are a reflection of the professionalism and high standards set by the offshore industry, and practised by the workforce.

"Maintaining these high standards will require continued vigilance by the industry, regulator, workforce and representatives.

"I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the sustained efforts of the industry and their commitment to safety – I wish everyone who contributes to this industry a happy Christmas and I look forward to another year of strong performance in 2019."