Overcoming the fear factor: Workforce involvement and health and safety offshore

Despite recent campaigns to present the UK oil and gas industry as one with an ever-improving safety record, there is overwhelming evidence that there has actually been little or no improvement. The data presented in this art icle show the degree to which victimization, and intimidation of the workfo rce on offshore platforms acts to prevent art open and constructive approac h to safety management. A number of particular problems in relation to work force involvement and the safety representatives and committee system are i dentified. The article concludes by placing these empirical findings within a policy context.