Aker BP’s crane & lifting ops on Ula field need further improvements

Norway’s safety watchdog, the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), has found three improvement points during an audit of Aker BP’s Ula field in the North Sea, off Norway.

The safety body conducted the audit on Aker BP’s arrangements for materials handling and crane and lifting operations on the Ula field from August 22-25.

The objective of the audit was to follow up the orders issued to BP on June 8, 2016, following an audit of materials handling, cranes and lifting, and late life.

There was a further objective of auditing systems to prevent accidents and injuries in connection with materials handling, cranes and lifting in the drilling area, as well as the use of scaffolding.

To remind, PSA identified serious breaches of regulations during an audit that took place February 1-4, 2016.

In conformity with the announcement of the breaches, the PSA issued orders to BP, which had to be complied to by December 1, 2016. The orders entail a systematic review and mapping of all areas and systems in respect to materials handling and assessing fulfillment of the requirements relating to prudent materials handling.

The PSA said on Tuesday that no non-conformities were identified, but the safety body has found three improvement points in connection with arrangements for effective and prudent materials handling, maintenance of the offshore cranes, and scaffolding, escape routes, load carriers, and instructions for use.

The safety regulator gave Aker BP a deadline of October 30, 2017, to report on how the improvement points would be addressed.