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.
- Operator 15
- Responsible Person 10
- Any Person 5
- Employer 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.
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 138 duties
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19 December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) 2018 121 duties
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed) 2012 112 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 75 duties
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 2016 66 duties
Responsible Persons also bound by 104 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- MH(CT)(S)A 2003 2003 45 duties
- Climate Change Levy (General) Regulations 2001 2001 24 duties
- The Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 1995 21 duties
- Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case ) Regulations 2015 2015 21 duties
- The Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005 2005 19 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Employers also bound by 694 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 236 duties
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 120 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 72 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 52 duties
- Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 2003 50 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
Citation and commencement
Interpretation
Application
Part II — INTEGRITY OF INSTALLATIONS
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
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
Part III — FURTHER REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO INSTALLATIONS
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Helicopter landing area
Additional requirements
Part IV — WELLS
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
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
Part V — MISCELLANEOUS
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
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
Schedules
Organisation of the installation
- Design installation layout to minimise risk to people on board Responsible Person
Sunlight let into workplaces via any window or skylight shall...
- Control excessive sunlight in workplaces Operator
Floors, walls and ceilings of rooms
- Ensure workplace floors are stable, non-slip, and free from bumps or holes Any Person
Roofs
- Control access to weak roofs and provide safety equipment Any Person
Windows and skylights
- Design windows, skylights and ventilation devices for safe operation and positioning Operator
Doors for pedestrians must be provided in the immediate vicinity...
- Provide pedestrian doors next to vehicle gates and keep them clear Operator
Traffic routes
- Ensure safe access to and emergency escape from offshore workplaces Operator
Danger areas
- Equip danger areas with devices to prevent unauthorised entry Employer
If a mechanical ventilation system is used, it must be...
- Maintain mechanical ventilation systems and fit breakdown alarms Operator
Any room designated as sleeping accommodation— (a) must not be...
- Don't overcrowd sleeping accommodation and ensure adequate space Any Person
Accommodation must include a sufficient number of showers and washing...
- Provide sufficient showers and washing facilities with hot and cold running water Operator
Where there are both men and women on an installation...
- Provide separate sleeping, shower and toilet facilities for men and women offshore Operator
Room temperature
- Keep enclosed workplaces at a reasonable temperature during working hours Any Person
Browse 72 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The temperature in rest areas, changing rooms, rooms containing facilities...
Enclosed workplaces must be adequately insulated against heat, bearing in...
The surfaces of floors, walls and ceilings in rooms must...
Transparent or translucent surfaces
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...
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...
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 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...
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
Accommodation must contain sufficient beds or bunks for the number...
Showers must be sufficiently spacious to permit each worker to...
Accommodation must be equipped with a sufficient number of lavatories...
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...
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 sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
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
Reporting of danger to an installation
- Report significant threats to offshore installation integrity to HSE Responsible Person
Decommissioning and dismantlement
- Maintain offshore installation integrity during decommissioning Responsible Person
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
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
Provision of drilling etc. information
- Send weekly drilling reports to HSE 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 9 other sections
Citation and commencement
Interpretation
Application
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
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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