Petroleum extraction — crude oil (SIC 06.10) and natural gas (SIC 06.20), onshore and offshore — is a high-hazard industry. The regime has three layers: a petroleum production licence from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), a process-safety stack built on the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and upstream petroleum taxation on ring-fenced profits. On top of those sit site-specific controls — the offshore safety-case regime, COMAH for onshore major-hazard establishments, environmental permits and OPRED offshore oil-pollution permits — that bite by installation type or inventory threshold.

This guide gives you the picture before you start: which regimes apply, which regulators enforce them and where to go for the detail.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA)

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - primary UK workplace health and safety legislation establishing employer and employee duties. Pure data reference.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA 1974) is the primary legislation governing workplace health and safety in the United Kingdom. It establishes the legal framework for protecting the health, safety and welfare of people at work and those affected by work activities.

Legal status: Primary legislation - principal UK health and safety statute
Royal Assent: 31 July 1974
Came into force: 1 April 1975 (in stages)
Geographic scope: Great Britain (separate legislation applies in Northern Ireland)
Applies to: All employers, employees, self-employed persons, and those who control work premises
Primary duty (Section 2): Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
Duty to non-employees (Section 3): Employers must protect persons not in their employment (contractors, visitors, public) who may be affected by work activities
Employee duties (Sections 7-8): Employees must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, cooperate with employers, and not misuse safety equipment
Enforcement authority: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities
Maximum penalties (post-2008 amendments): Unlimited fines in Crown Court; imprisonment up to 2 years for individuals; up to 6 months and/or £20,000 fine in Magistrates' Court
Referenced by regulators: Cited in 31 regulatory documents in the ORDS (Office for Regulatory Delivery and Simplification) dataset
Secondary regulations: Enables creation of health and safety regulations (e.g. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, COSHH, Manual Handling)

Reasonably practicable: The Act uses the term "so far as is reasonably practicable" throughout. This means employers must balance the level of risk against the time, trouble and cost of controlling it. However, the law is weighted in favour of health and safety - employers must demonstrate that control measures would be grossly disproportionate to the risk before they can be considered not reasonably practicable.

Self-employed persons: The Act also places duties on self-employed persons to protect their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work activities.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (legislation.gov.uk)

HSE - Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 guidance

What you need to do

Work through the guides below in order. The spine covers your workplace duties and employing people; the licensing, permits and major-hazard guide covers the petroleum licence, offshore safety case, COMAH, environmental permits, OPRED permits and upstream taxation; and the checklist lets you confirm you have covered everything.

1

Set up and run a safe petroleum extraction operation

The universal spine. Follow this for your health and safety duties, COSHH and DSEAR controls for hazardous and flammable hydrocarbons, work equipment, manual handling, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection.
2

Get the licences, permits and meet major-hazard duties

The petroleum production licence, offshore safety case, COMAH, onshore environmental permits, OPRED offshore oil-pollution permits and upstream petroleum taxation.
3

Confirm you have covered everything

Finish with the petroleum extraction compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met.

Your guides

Set up and run a safe petroleum extraction operation — the universal spine
Get the licences, permits and meet major-hazard duties — licensing, permits, COMAH, offshore safety case and upstream taxation
Petroleum extraction: compliance checklist — confirm you have covered everything

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for petroleum extraction regulation.

Which petroleum extraction regulations apply to your business

Petroleum extraction: compliance checklist

Fire safety duties for Northern Ireland businesses

Fire safety duties for Scottish businesses

Set up a limited company

Persons with Significant Control (PSC) register requirements

What you need to do

Set up and run a safe petroleum extraction operation

Get the licences, permits and meet major-hazard duties

Confirm you have covered everything

Your guides

Official sources

Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Petroleum extraction: compliance checklist

Fire safety duties for Northern Ireland businesses

Fire safety duties for Scottish businesses

Set up a limited company

Persons with Significant Control (PSC) register requirements

What you need to do

Set up and run a safe petroleum extraction operation

Get the licences, permits and meet major-hazard duties

Confirm you have covered everything

Your guides

Official sources