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Cooperation

Relevant Statutes:

·      Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Section 7

·      Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 [MHSWR], Reg 9

·      Management and Administration Regulations 1992 [MAR], Reg 8

·      Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 [PFEER]

·      Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 [PFEER]

·      Design and Construction Regulations 1996 [DCR], Reg 20.

Everybody has a duty to co-operate with duty holders with health and safety responsibilities so far as is necessary to enable them to meet their legal obligations. Co-operation can take many forms including following work procedures, the use of specific equipment such as PPE and undergoing training. In many instances employers are required to supply information and those receiving the information have to take account of it.

Co-operation between Employers

Where the activities of different employers interact (e.g. a helicopter pilot on an installation) they may need to co-operate with each other to ensure their respective obligations are met. The duties to co-operate, co-ordinate measures and exchange information relates to all statutory duties and therefore concerns all people who may be at risk

Risk Assessment

Risk assessments, particularly those relating to emergencies, will need to cover the whole workplace and workforce and will require some degree of co-ordination.

Co-operation for Emergency Response

The Emergency Response plan should include arrangements for co-operation with;

·      operators/owners of other installations pipelines

·      providers of helicopters and standby vessels

·      supply vessels, diving contractors etc.

·      employers who are not the duty holder

·      all persons on the installation

Offshore Installation Managers and HL0s

Anyone who boards or enters an installation's safety zone must recognise the authority of the 0IM. It is the duty of everyone on board to co-operate with the 0IM, so far as is necessary, to enable the OIM to carry out his duties and functions. This means that where the 0IM has issued instructions for health and safety purposes these should be followed. Masters of vessels and helicopter pilots must also co-operate with OIMs provided this does not conflict with their statutory duties.

The OIM must co-operate with:

·      the owner or operator (who appointed the OIM) so that they can meet their legal obligations

·      the 0IM of another installation where their operations may interact

HLOs - every person shall co-operate with the HLO, so far as is necessary to enable him to enable him to perform his functions.