NOPSEMA, APPEA and ACTU launch initiative to support Health and Safety Representatives

Health and safety representatives (HSRs) - crucial to ensuring wellbeing of workers in the offshore energy industry - are invited to register for a one-day HSR Forum in Melbourne on 24 November, 2022.

Hosted by NOPSEMA, Australia’s offshore regulator, in conjunction with peak industry and union bodies APPEA and the ACTU, the HSR Forum is a hybrid event at which attendees will hear from a range of expert speakers and panellists, presenting on topics such as training, updates on legislation and regulation, psychosocial work hazards and workplace support for HSRs.

Derrick O’Keeffe, who heads up NOPSEMA’s Safety and Integrity division, said he hopes the day will be a great success, especially as last year’s event was limited to video attendance.

“We held our first event in 2019 in Perth and it was very well received. The last one we did was slightly hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic and so we’re really looking forward to hosting a face-to-face event on the east coast.

“The Australian offshore oil and gas industry relies on dedicated, trained, experienced and competent personnel to ensure the safe operations and optimal performance of its offshore facilities. HSRs are a key part of this workforce and play a crucial role in keeping the offshore workforce safe and healthy,” he added.

Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said: “Our industry has decades of experience operating offshore facilities with a focus on ensuring the health and safety of our workers. This forum will enable health and safety representatives to share practical experience from across the industry.

“Representatives from a range of offshore workplaces will bring their individual perspectives, hear about industry developments, and discuss how to continually improve health and safety.”

ACTU’s Liam O’Brien added: “We really need to see broad support from across industry to ensure the forum’s well attended and of value to the workforce. We’re calling on all companies operating in the offshore O&G sector to make their HSRs available and to support attend the forum.

“We need a wide cross-section of HSRs representing a variety of stakeholders, operators, contractors and labour hire providers to ensure a diversity of views and learnings are shared through the event. And so we’re particularly keen to see HSRs from second and third tier contractors attending,” he added.

The HSR Forum has been scheduled to take place the day after the WHS Foundation’s day-long HSR Refresher course - Offshore Oil & Gas Industry – also held in Melbourne, to enable HSRs to access career enhancing opportunities across both days.

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