The Annual Offshore Performance Report was released on Thursday last week and stated that while offshore worked hours had increased to 12.8 million from 9.7 the year before, injuries and dangerous occurrences were at all-time lows. 

 

But the unions say there is evidence to show that the figures are skewed due to underreporting caused by bullying and threats. 

 

 "Over the last six months we have heard of incidents occurring in the Bass Strait gas fields and off the coast of Western Australia which have never even been reported to NOPSEMA," an AMWU spokesperson told Energy News.

 

"Bullying and harassment is rife in the offshore oil and gas industry, and workers have noted time and again that they are ignored when they raise safety concerns. In many projects, the entire contracted workforce has been casualised, which means many workers never raise safety issues for fear of reprisal," the spokesperson said. 

 

Legislation requires operators and companies to report accidents and dangerous occurrences to NOPSEMA, with thorough investigation by operators to find the root cause of the each report. 

 

There were no fatalities and a reduced rate of injuries and dangerous occurrences despite an increase of worked hours on offshore operations last year, according to the report. 

 

The MUA was quick to question the independence of NOPSEMA and claimed an automatic conflict of interest. 

 

"Being an industry funded regulator puts a conflict on the role of the regulator instantly. Especially from big oil majors," MUA national safety officer Michael Cross told Energy News. 

 

"Offshore workers know that if they raise safety issues with certain companies they will be given their notice and no longer required at work. 

 

"It still goes without saying that NOPSEMA are reluctant to talk to Health and Safety Representatives after an incident [and reluctant] to talk to Health and Safety reps when they're doing their inspections," Cross continued.

 

"HSRs don't have confidence that the regulator will support them when they do put in the incident reports or contact the regulator with concerns for safety issues."

NOPSEMA refutes both of the union's claims, telling Energy News in a statement that the regulator receives and proactively responds to issues raised by HSRs and all members of the workforce.

 

According to the regulator since its inception in 2012, more than 2300 notifications have been made by duty holders about operational incidents relating to safety, well integrity and environmental management of a petroleum activity. 

 

"NOPSEMA confirms that for every facility-based OHS inspection, the inspection scope always includes consultation with HSRs and members of the workforce. Under the OPGGS Act a NOPSEMA OHS inspector must give a HSR a reasonable opportunity to consult on the inspection of that facility," the statement said. 

 

It said it regularly received phone calls and emails seeking advice regarding resolution of a safety issue, and also received via its publically listed contact information from workers seeking to report an issue. 

 

 "The frequency of these types of contact from HSRs and other members of the workforce, while anecdotal, do not support the claim that the workforce does not have confidence in the regulator." 

 

Since 2012 NOPSEMA has undertaken more than 196 enforcement actions including prohibition and improvement notices. The regulator denied that it lacked teeth and upheld its independence despite the union's outcry over industry funding. 

 

The authority told Energy News that it was subject to a range of governance controls including; federal and state government ministerial oversight, an advisory board, senate estimates hearings and parliamentary inquiries. 

 

"NOPSEMA operate on a cost recovery basis," the regulator insists, meaning operators must pay levies and fees to fund the authority's assessments and inspections, which can lead to the regulation enforcement.  

 

The report found that 291 dangerous occurrences and 52 injuries had happened last year, of these 10 were categorised as ‘accidents.' 

 

Accidents include incidents where an offshore worker is killed, suffers a serious injury or suffered an illness requiring more than three days off work. 

 

It is not the first time the union have raised concerns about NOPSEMA's reporting and management of health and safety incidents. 

 

A senate inquiry was launched earlier this year into worker safety on offshore facilities, with the findings of the inquiry are due to be handed down either tomorrow, or later this month.