UK Statutory Instrument
1996
United Kingdom
The Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc.) Regulations 1996
At a glance
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Responsible Person 8
- Operator 7
- Any Person 1
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Responsible Persons also bound by 56 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- MH(CT)(S)A 2003 2003 45 duties
- Climate Change Levy (General) Regulations 2001 2001 24 duties
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England/Wales comparison) 2005 22 duties
- The Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 1995 21 duties
- The Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995 1995 16 duties
Operators also bound by 125 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 71 duties
- Payment Services Regulations 2017 2017 41 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 34 duties
- The Quarries Regulations 1999 1999 31 duties
- Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 2015 22 duties
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part II — INTEGRITY OF INSTALLATIONS
General duty
- Maintain the structural integrity of offshore installations Responsible Person
Design of an installation
- Design off-shore installations for safety and structural integrity Responsible Person
Work to an installation
- Maintain the structural integrity of offshore installations during work Responsible Person
Operation of an installation
- Operate the installation within safe limits and maintain records Responsible Person
Maintenance of integrity
- Maintain the structural integrity of offshore installations Responsible Person
Decommissioning and dismantlement
- Maintain offshore installation integrity during decommissioning Responsible Person
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part III — FURTHER REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO INSTALLATIONS
Helicopter landing area
- Ensure helicopter landing areas are safe and adequately designed Responsible Person
Additional requirements
- Comply with additional installation safety and welfare requirements Responsible Person
Part IV — WELLS
General duty
- Ensure safety and prevent fluid leaks from offshore wells Operator
Assessment of conditions below ground
- Assess and review underground geological hazards before and during drilling Operator
Design with a view to suspension and abandonment
- Design and construct wells for safe suspension and abandonment Operator
Materials
- Use suitable materials for all parts of a well Operator
Well control
- Provide and deploy suitable well control equipment Operator
Arrangements for examination
- Set up independent examination arrangements for well integrity Operator
Co-operation
- Co-operate with well-operators on safety duties Any Person
Information, instruction, training and supervision
- Ensure staff are trained and supervised for well operations Operator
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part V — MISCELLANEOUS
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Schedules
Browse 85 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Organisation of the installation
The temperature in rest areas, changing rooms, rooms containing facilities...
Sunlight let into workplaces via any window or skylight shall...
Floors, walls and ceilings of rooms
Enclosed workplaces must be adequately insulated against heat, bearing in...
The surfaces of floors, walls and ceilings in rooms must...
Transparent or translucent surfaces
Roofs
Natural and artificial lighting
Workplaces must, as far as possible, receive sufficient natural light...
Lighting installations in workplaces and in passageways must be placed...
An installation shall be kept sufficiently clean, with any hazardous...
Workplaces in which persons are especially exposed to risks in...
Windows and skylights
It must be possible to clean windows and skylights without...
Doors and gates
Transparent doors must be appropriately marked at a conspicuous level....
Swing doors and gates must be transparent or have see-through...
Sliding doors must be fitted with a safety device to...
Doors and gates opening upwards must be fitted with a...
Doors for pedestrians must be provided in the immediate vicinity...
Power-operated doors and gates must function without risk of accident...
Arrangements shall exist for the collection at source and removal,...
When chains or similar devices are used to prevent access...
Traffic routes
Traffic routes must be sufficient in number, in suitable positions,...
If means of transport are used on traffic routes, a...
Sufficient clearance must be allowed between vehicle traffic routes and...
Traffic routes must be clearly identified for the protection of...
Danger areas
Room dimensions and air space in rooms— freedom of movement in the workstation
The dimensions of the unoccupied area at the workstation must...
Rest rooms
Workstations must be designed and constructed with a view to...
Paragraph 39 does not apply if the workers are employed...
Rest rooms must be large enough and equipped with an...
If working hours are regularly and frequently interrupted and there...
Appropriate measures should be taken for the protection of non-smokers...
Outdoor workplaces
Workplaces outdoors must be adequately lit by artificial lighting if...
When workers are employed at workstations outdoors, such workstations must...
Pregnant women and nursing mothers
People with disabilities
Sanitary facilities
Ventilation of enclosed workplaces
Changing rooms must be easily accessible, be of sufficient capacity...
Changing rooms must be sufficiently large and have facilities to...
If circumstances so require, lockers for work clothes must be...
Provision must be made to enable wet work clothes to...
Provision must be made for separate changing rooms or separate...
If changing rooms are not required under paragraph 49, each...
Showers and washing facilities
Lavatories and washbasins
Provision must be made for separate lavatories or separate use...
Accommodation
If a mechanical ventilation system is used, it must be...
Accommodation must contain sufficient beds or bunks for the number...
Any room designated as sleeping accommodation— (a) must not be...
Accommodation must include a sufficient number of showers and washing...
Showers must be sufficiently spacious to permit each worker to...
Accommodation must be equipped with a sufficient number of lavatories...
Where there are both men and women on an installation...
Accommodation and its plant must be maintained to adequate standards...
If air-conditioning or mechanical ventilation systems are used, they must...
Any deposit or dirt likely to create an immediate danger...
Room temperature
MODIFICATION OF THE OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS (SAFETY CASE) REGULATIONS 1992
Paragraph (1) of regulation 2 shall be amended in accordance...
In paragraph (3) of regulation 15, for the words “paragraph...
After regulation 15 there shall be inserted the following regulations:...
After paragraph 9 of Schedule 2 there shall be inserted...
After paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 there shall be inserted...
In Schedule 6 there shall be added to the heading...
After Schedule 6 there shall be added the following schedule:...
After Schedule 8 there shall be added the following schedule:...
For the definition of “concession owner" there shall be substituted...
After the definition of “safety case" there shall be inserted...
After the definition of “major accident" there shall be inserted...
After paragraph (7) of regulation 2 there shall be inserted...
There shall be substituted for paragraph (4) of regulation 8...
There shall be added to regulation 11 the following paragraphs:...
After regulation 13 (transitional provisions) there shall be added the...
After paragraph (2) of regulation 15 there shall be inserted...
REVOCATION
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections exist in the Act but the contents-of-Parts walker did not place them under a Part. Likely amendments or sections inserted out of the original Part structure.
Browse 27 other unclassified sections
Citation and commencement
Interpretation
Application
General duty
Design of an installation
Work to an installation
Operation of an installation
Maintenance of integrity
Reporting of danger to an installation
Decommissioning and dismantlement
Helicopter landing area
Additional requirements
General duty
Assessment of conditions below ground
Design with a view to suspension and abandonment
Materials
Well control
Arrangements for examination
Provision of drilling etc. information
Co-operation
Information, instruction, training and supervision
Defence
Certificates of exemption
Transitional provision
Repeal of section 3 of the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971
Modification of the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 1992
Revocation
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- HSE: quarries (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- HSE: offshore (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- HSE: mining (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
HSE
PrimaryHealth and Safety Executive
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates …
Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning
Regulates environmental aspects of offshore oil and gas, carbon storage, and gas unloading/storage. Issues environmental permits, approves oil spill response plans, and …
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