After 40 years of oil and gas production in the UK sector of the North Sea, more than half of fixed platforms have exceeded their original design life or soon will.

Many are expected to remain operational for the foreseeable future and inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will visit installations and check safety management plans to ensure that ageing is taken into account.

Launching the programme at a seminar for senior industry managers, unions and policy makers in Aberdeen, Steve Walker, HSE's Head of Offshore Safety, said: "The issue of ageing installations is not a new one, and we have been working with the industry to address the risks for several years. We are very clear that if installations are going to be used beyond their original anticipated design life then operators need to look to the future and anticipate inevitable consequences. This is a priority for us.

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"Ageing offshore installations run the risk of deterioration, which can have serious consequences for installation and asset integrity. This is not acceptable. The safety of 28,000 workers is dependent on systems and structures being in good working now and in the future.

"We will be seeking evidence and reassurance that operators are properly considering ageing and life extension as a key and distinct part of their asset integrity management plans.

"The industry and unions are fully behind this programme. They appreciate that well maintained, safe and efficient plant and equipment are vital to ensure the long term future of the UK offshore oil and gas industry."

The objectives of the Ageing & Life Extension Inspection Programme (Key Programme 4) are: to identify duty holders' approaches to the management of the risks to asset integrity associated with ageing and life extension;to raise awareness of the need for specific consideration of ageing issues as a distinct activity within the asset integrity management process; to enforce an appropriate programme of remedial action where necessary; to work with the offshore industry to establish a common approach to the management of ageing installations.

KP4 will run until September 2013. It will also include the development of technical information for operators on ageing installations covering three areas: structural integrity and the integrity of process plant, fire and explosion, and electrical and control systems.

The promotion of good practice, liaison with industry bodies and sharing of experience through seminars and workshops are also key aims of the programme.

(GK/KMcA)