Everyone working in the offshore oil industry has a part to play in driving up safety standards in the sector further, delegates at a major conference were told today.

Nearly 200 participants are attending the 'Play Your Part' Offshore Workforce Involvement Day being held at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium. The event - the first of its kind - has been organised by the Workforce Involvement Group (WIG) a sub-group of the Offshore Industry Advisory Committee (OIAC).

Commenting on the conference, Ian Whewell, Head of the Health and Safety Executive's Offshore Division and Chair of OIAC, said: "It is essential that the offshore workforce is fully involved and is enabled to play its part in securing improvements in safety.

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"In this the year when we remember the 20th anniversary of the Piper Alpha tragedy it is opportune to remember the importance Lord Cullen attached to this in his report on the disaster."

Addressing participants, Danny Carrigan, Non Executive member of the HSE Board said: "The offshore industry is facing growing challenges - ageing installations, changing ownership and management, worker skills shortages and inexperience and lack of corporate memory by managers. Companies should develop approaches based on collaboration and trust; use the knowledge and experience of the workforce; and learn lessons from incidents by fully involving the workforce in investigations."

Delegates have been drawn from the broad spectrum of the offshore workforce. They will hear presentations from colleagues in the industry and will share experiences of good practice in action and explore ways in which to raise workplace health and safety standards further, through participation.

(JM)