Oil addiction puts lives at risk

Safety chiefs have warned that hydrocarbon gas leaks on Britain’s offshore platforms present a serious safety threat that could prove disastrous.

A report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the number of dangerous incidents on offshore platforms in 2007/08 increased on year to 571, 32 more than in 2006/07.

Serious injuries in the offshore industry also increased 13% to 44.

On a positive note, there were no fatalities in the industry for the first time in three years.

Judith Hackitt, chair of HSE, said the figures raise continuing concern that’basic safety systems are not being followed.

As well as damaging the environment, hydrocarbon leaks have the potential to cause a major accident.

In the Piper Alpha disaster 20 years ago 167 platform workers were killed in a fire following a hydrocarbon gas leak.

HSE is concerned that the key lessons from the disaster have yet to be learned.