All deaths offshore are considered to be sudden deaths, that is they are 'unexpected'. The site of an incident must not be disturbed for 3 days after it has been reported without an inspector's permission except to secure the safety of the workplace or any person. 1. The 0IM has to complete and sign Part 1 of form OIR/8 as soon as practicable (in any event within 10 days) and send it to either the operator (fixed installation) or the owner (mobile Installation) who completes Part 11 and send it to the Registry of Shipping and Seamen. This form is required for the death certificate. 2. In the event of a death not attributable to natural causes an OIR/9B has to be completed by the responsible person as given in the following table. The responsible person with the duty to report varies with circumstances as follows:Relevant Statutes:
A death would be considered expected when for example it was caused by a terminal illness. Thus in the event of a death on an installation or in a lifeboat or other emergency survival craft or when engaged in any operation connected with the installation the police have to be informed. If the death has been caused by an accident (that is not by natural causes) the HSE (OSD) also have to be informed by the quickest practicable means. This can be done directly from the installation or via head office depending on company policy.
There are two legal documents to be completed:
Circumstances
Responsible Person
a) On an installation.
Owner (mobile), operator (fixed)
b) During a diving operation
Diving contractor.
c) An injury not covered by a. or b. above occurring during an activity in connection with
i) an offshore installation
ii) a well or pipeline works
iii) pipeline worksEmployer of employee or person in control of place of work where self-employed person involved.
Dangerous occurance at a pipeline
Pipeline owner
Dangerous occurrence at a well
Well operator or concession owner
Where an employee dies within 1 year as a result of injuries suffered at an accident at work.
The employer
The responsible person is also required to keep a record of the particulars of the accident for 3 years.
Note that all deaths that are not due to natural causes have to be reported to OSD and an OIR/9B completed even when there are other reporting requirements such as accidents involving civil aircraft, merchant shipping or radioactive substances.