BP's North Sea record under scrutiny

15th Sep 2010 08:11

BP has been quick to calm fears about safety training in the North Sea by confirming completion of training and oil pollution emergency plans, according to the government.The oil giant's safety record had come under fresh scrutiny following publication of a letter from the Health and Safety Executive criticising four of the firm's installations for oil spill procedures in 2009.Just months after the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico that caused the worst oil spill in American history, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said offshore managers have completed the necessary training.BP, in the midst of a US enquiry into the Gulf spill, was told last October that "training of some new personnel to basic safety standards was ineffective".The inspectorate also said that BP "did not appear to identify the significance of issues raised by the complainant once they were put to you by HSE".BP replied to the HSE that its processes had been reviewed and improved by November.Four out of five of BP's North Sea installations inspected last year were issued with warnings for failure to comply with regulations on oil spills.The need for better training was highlighted by BP's own internal report into the causes of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. Eleven people were killed when the rig exploded and sank.