Oil rig inspectors should spend time with workers to gain insight

Oil rig inspectors could gain a greater insight into safety practices on such installations by living for a time with the workers.

That's the conclusion of a National Research Council which suggests that inspectors should be encouraged to fly to rigs off the Gulf of Mexico on helicopters leased by regulated companies.

It's also recommended that inspectors from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement should look to a number of other measures to improve standards in the industry.

These include hiring more capable employees, increasing levels of training and charging companies a fee to cover costs for this stricter oversight.

The council said, in a study for the Interior Department unit, also known as BSEE, that such measures, particularly the idea of 'living in' while on duty, would let inspectors get a better picture of rig risks.

It said they would be able to observe the culture aside from "obvious violations" including loose handrails or corroded walkways.

The council said: "Other regulatory organizations use operator-furnished transportation and accommodations with no adverse effect on the integrity of the process.

"BSEE should consider doing the same to increase the quality of its inspections and to reduce expenditures."

The study comes about after Barack Obama ordered a rethink when it comes to the relationship between inspectors and oil companies following the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion in April 2010.

He described such relationships as "cosy and sometimes corrupt", and now inspectors avoid travelling on helicopters leased by companies or enjoy food provided by rig operators.

This could be modified slightly if the council gets its way.

David Pettit, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, told Bloomberg: "It's a good idea to have the inspectors spend more time on the rigs, and it doesn’t trouble me that they might travel via an oil-company helicopter."

Another one of the council's recommendations is to allow a whistle blower program where employees would be able to report energy companies' violations.

This would see people able to report cases of inappropriate behaviour by Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement personnel.

Posted by Lauren Steadman