Capability & Regulatory Assurance

Inspection Management Team (IMT) Team Leader

2015 Offshore Safety Case Regulations Implementation Team

As an offshore regulatory specialist inspector I had responsibility for assigned duty holders acting as a focal point inspector for their day to day contact with the HSE. I had dealings with both large and small duty holders of fixed installations in the northern, central and southern North Sea, with operators of mobile platforms and drilling rigs and operators of well service vessels. I led inspections both on and offshore focusing on safety management systems and coordinating other specialist discipline inspections of the duty holder's operations. I investigated incidents and took enforcement decisions, determining the appropriate action, in line with internal policies and procedures. I was involved with investigations involving serious injury, gas release and as a result of complaint, I improvement notices. I managed and assessed submissions under the safety case regime ensuring comments from all relevant disciplines were dealt with appropriately, in line with procedure and within the relevant time frames, this included submissions of design notifications, 14(2) significant changes, decommissioning cases and thorough reviews. I was involved in reviewing and updating the Offshore Division's risk assessments to ensure they accurately reflect practise and provide a useful resources for staff whilst not becoming too onerous to maintain. I managed the inspection programme for evaluating duty holder compliance with SI971 Safety Representatives regulations.

Main responsibilities included the assessment, inspection, investigation and enforcement of offshore pollution legislation as applied to offshore installations in the UKCS. I sought evidence of compliance and non-compliance relating to various matters both onshore and offshore, with operational personnel and management as appropriate. I investigated incidents that occurred, taking statements in preparation for prosecution or alternative enforcement action as appropriate. As offshore environmental legislation was still evolving, as part of a team, I was involved in drafting regulations, permits and guidance notes for both internal and external use. I was also involved in providing technical advice to UK delegates attending international conventions (e.g. OSPAR) and implementing the resulting agreements within the UK. Areas of responsibility here included aerial and satellite surveillance and management of drill cuttings piles.

Main responsibilities included regulation of a variety of industrial activities under environmental (IPC / IPPC), COMAH and radioactive substances regimes. I managed 20 IPC authorisations and have experience of a wide range of industries including oil and gas, chemical, metallurgical, power and textile sectors. I assessed and authorised applications for new and revised processes, worked closely with companies to identify and achieve environmental improvements to their operations and assessed monitoring data and environmental effects information. I was responsible for my decisions relating to enforcement action. I regulated a number of top and lower tier COMAH sites in conjunction with the HSE. This involved the assessment and inspection of safety reports and major accident prevention policies with specific regard to potential major accidents to the environment (MATTE). I also held responsibility to regulate under the Radioactive Substances Act and inspected a variety of open and closed sources ensuring appropriate control measures were in place. I managed and prioritised my own workload to ensure internal targets, regulatory requirements and operational needs were met and I had to remain flexible and adapt to provide a reactive response when necessary.

Main responsibilities included providing an advice and support service to engineering, production and divisional managers as to their responsibilities under IPC (Integrated Pollution Control) legislation and liaising with the Environment Agency with or on behalf of these personnel. On a daily basis I was involved on plant, monitoring the processes and managing 5 IPC authorisations; this included the drafting and submission of applications and variations, oversight of improvement programmes, BPEO (Best Practicable Environmental Option) assessments and the reporting of monitoring data and notifications. I sat on a number of HAZOP workshops for the processes I was involved with. I managed the routine and improvement stack monitoring and had responsibility for equipment maintenance, I was responsible for the training and supervision of two technicians. In addition I responded to customer questionnaires regarding environmental management at the company. As part of the HSE Department I worked closely with health & safety colleagues and became involved in risk assessment and occupational monitoring.