USE OF RISK ASSESSMENT AS AN OFFSHORE DESIGN TOOL

The Piper Alpha disaster in 1988 drew attention to the importance of safety in all aspects of offshore installations and processes. The methods of offshore risk assessment are described and the ways in which they differ from onshore techniques are highlighted. In response to the incident a public enquiry was set up to investigate the cause and circumstances of the disaster and to make recommendations. The published findings of the enquiry are reviewed. Five case studies are presented as illustrations of offshore risk assessment.