The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) has this month published the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 2007/247. The Regulations, which came into force on 21 May 2007, will revoke the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations (Northern Ireland SR 1993/221, and aim to improve the regulation and control of major hazards offshore by strengthening the safety case regime. In addition, they make a small amendment to the Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 1995/345, to clarify that rescue and recovery arrangements should always include external parties such as coastguards and helicopter support.
The Great Britain Health and Safety Executive Approved Code of Practice L30, entitled "A Guide to the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005", has been endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI) for use with these new Regulations.
