A MESSAGE TO OFFSHORE CONTRACTORS FROM ENDURE, INC.
The Safety Situation
As many of you know, on November 15th all offshore oil and gas operators were required to comply with the new regulations established by BSEE. The regulations mandate that oil and gas operators on the outer continental shelf (OCS) develop and implement SEMS (Safety and Environmental Management Systems) in accordance with API RP 75.
While we all commend the hard work and diligence of those who worked to reopen the gulf’s beaches, businesses, and communities, as well as the government’s efforts to ensure the safe operations of activities on the OCS, one implication of the new federal regulations has been overlooked: the impact of these regulations on small businesses that support offshore operators.
As many of you know, on November 15th all offshore oil and gas operators were required to comply with the new regulations established by BSEE. The regulations mandate that oil and gas operators on the outer continental shelf (OCS) develop and implement SEMS (Safety and Environmental Management Systems) in accordance with API RP 75.
While we all commend the hard work and diligence of those who worked to reopen the gulf’s beaches, businesses, and communities, as well as the government’s efforts to ensure the safe operations of activities on the OCS, one implication of the new federal regulations has been overlooked: the impact of these regulations on small businesses that support offshore operators.
Small offshore contractors get ready!
The new regulations clearly state that contractors do not have to have SEMS, but the regulations do require that Operators & Contractors must document their agreement on appropriate contractor safety and environmental policies (bridging document).
Due to the urgency and critical nature of the new regulations, offshore operators are covering their bases and most are requiring contractors to have SEMS in order to continue working offshore. This could shut down the operations of some medium and small offshore contractors indefinitely.
One offshore contractor I met two weeks ago in Houston had just received notice of a pending SEMS audit and was being required to have SEMS implemented. This offshore contractor was facing the end of a multi-year contract until SEMS was implemented and the audit was passed. The contractor didn’t know where to start.
The new regulations clearly state that contractors do not have to have SEMS, but the regulations do require that Operators & Contractors must document their agreement on appropriate contractor safety and environmental policies (bridging document).
Due to the urgency and critical nature of the new regulations, offshore operators are covering their bases and most are requiring contractors to have SEMS in order to continue working offshore. This could shut down the operations of some medium and small offshore contractors indefinitely.
One offshore contractor I met two weeks ago in Houston had just received notice of a pending SEMS audit and was being required to have SEMS implemented. This offshore contractor was facing the end of a multi-year contract until SEMS was implemented and the audit was passed. The contractor didn’t know where to start.
What does this mean?
Contractors may only need to have a working knowledge of SEMS, operators’ safety protocol, and sign a bridging document to continue supporting some offshore operators. However, a growing number of operators, like in the example above, are requiring that offshore contractors have SEMS implemented inside their own companies. For contractors providing piping or drilling support functions, this is a reasonable request and these companies likely have the resources and capacity to comply. However, for many offshore contract companies, developing a SEMS system is not only exceedingly difficult, but prohibitively time consuming and expensive.
Contractors may only need to have a working knowledge of SEMS, operators’ safety protocol, and sign a bridging document to continue supporting some offshore operators. However, a growing number of operators, like in the example above, are requiring that offshore contractors have SEMS implemented inside their own companies. For contractors providing piping or drilling support functions, this is a reasonable request and these companies likely have the resources and capacity to comply. However, for many offshore contract companies, developing a SEMS system is not only exceedingly difficult, but prohibitively time consuming and expensive.
The Solution
As an environmental and safety management consultant for over 20 years and a w/mbe, I understand the potential impacts of these new federal regulations on small businesses. Seeing the proverbial ‘writing on the wall’ early this year, I designed a safety and environmental training course to guide small businesses to comply with the new regulations.
ENDURE’s SEMS training course is designed to educate and empower contractors to support the compliance requirements of their respective operators. Over the course of two days, we will cover the history of API RP 75, the full regulatory requirements, operator’s responsibilities, and walk through what contractors need to do to begin developing and implementing their own SEMS. This is a high-powered, detailed course built for owners, senior company leaders, and safety personnel who will be responsible for developing and implementing SEMS.
To learn more about ENDURE’s Safety and Environmental training courses, including our 2-day SEMS Compliance course for offshore operators, go to endure-inc.com. You may also send questions or comments to Angelia Hopson, CEO/President of ENDURE, INC. at:
Visit our site - endure-inc.com
Visit our blog - endure360.blogspot.com
Sincerely,
Angelia Hopson
ENDURE, Inc.
360 Beinoris Drive
Wood Dale, IL 60191
P (630) 766-9700
F (630) 766-9701
E ahopson@endure-inc.com
Chicago * Houston * New Orleans * Orlando
For more information about our safety services go to http://www.endure-inc.com
As an environmental and safety management consultant for over 20 years and a w/mbe, I understand the potential impacts of these new federal regulations on small businesses. Seeing the proverbial ‘writing on the wall’ early this year, I designed a safety and environmental training course to guide small businesses to comply with the new regulations.
ENDURE’s SEMS training course is designed to educate and empower contractors to support the compliance requirements of their respective operators. Over the course of two days, we will cover the history of API RP 75, the full regulatory requirements, operator’s responsibilities, and walk through what contractors need to do to begin developing and implementing their own SEMS. This is a high-powered, detailed course built for owners, senior company leaders, and safety personnel who will be responsible for developing and implementing SEMS.
To learn more about ENDURE’s Safety and Environmental training courses, including our 2-day SEMS Compliance course for offshore operators, go to endure-inc.com. You may also send questions or comments to Angelia Hopson, CEO/President of ENDURE, INC. at:
Visit our site - endure-inc.com
Visit our blog - endure360.blogspot.com
Sincerely,
Angelia Hopson
ENDURE, Inc.
360 Beinoris Drive
Wood Dale, IL 60191
P (630) 766-9700
F (630) 766-9701
E ahopson@endure-inc.com
Chicago * Houston * New Orleans * Orlando
For more information about our safety services go to http://www.endure-inc.com
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