Lord Cullen leads the way as Aberdeen safety conference builds on lessons of Piper Alpha

A conference is due to be held to consider offshore safety issues – 30 years after the Piper Alpha disaster.

An explosion on the oil platform, based 120 miles off the coast of Aberdeen, happened on July 6, 1988.

It claimed the lives of 167 workers, including two of the crew from a rescue vessel.

The disaster brought about sweeping health and safety reform in the industry.

More than 100 safety recommendations were made following a public inquiry into the incident.

Safety 30, which will take place at the AECC on June 5 and 6, will be addressed by Lord Cullen, who chaired the public inquiry into the disaster.

He will speak about the need to continue to learn lessons from situations that arise offshore, drawing on the disaster as well as other major incidents.

Deirdre Michie, the chief executive of Oil and Gas UK, the chief organisers of the conference, said: “We must never forget the tragic loss of life that resulted from Piper Alpha.

“It represented a watershed moment for health and safety in our industry and led to the world-class safety regime we have today.

“However, we must never lose the momentum around safe operations and have to constantly, and relentlessly, strive to keep our sector as safe as it can be, and that’s the focus of our conference.” The conference’s main sponsor is Step Change in Safety, a group that aims to bring together workers, managers and regulators to improve the safety levels offshore.

Les Linklater, executive director at the body, said: “Step Change in Safety was borne off the back of the industry’s desire to continue to improve post Piper Alpha and was established in 1997.

“In 1990, Lord Cullen’s report emphasised the role of the Elected Safety Representative (ESR), and therefore we are pleased to be able to offer 100 free spaces for ESRs, who wish to attend this informative conference, which stems from such tragedy.”

Chris Flint, director of the health and safety executive’s energy division, said: “The Health and Safety Executive is pleased to be supporting this conference which brings together the UK oil and gas industry and the Global Offshore International Regulators’ Forum.

“It promises to be an engaging and informative event marking a hugely important milestone.”