Tragic Helicopter Accident Highlights Safety Priorities Amid Positive Trends

Tragic Helicopter Accident Highlights Safety Priorities Amid Positive Trends

(IN BRIEF) Equinor faced a devastating blow in the first quarter with the loss of a colleague in a helicopter crash, underscoring the paramount importance of safety measures across its operations. While investigations continue into the accident involving Bristow, Equinor emphasizes its commitment to enhancing safety protocols, particularly in search and rescue operations. Despite this tragedy, Equinor notes a positive long-term trend in safety statistics, with reductions in serious incident frequency and total recordable injury frequency. The company remains dedicated to preventing major accidents through rigorous safety training for leaders and collaboration initiatives such as the “Always Safe” annual wheel, focusing on injury prevention in the upcoming quarter.

(PRESS RELEASE) STAVANGER, 18-Apr-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Bristow and Equinor were stricken by a tragic helicopter accident in the first quarter. At the same time the safety statistics indicate a long-term positive trend in general for the period.

“On 28 February we lost a good colleague when an Oseberg search and rescue (SAR) helicopter crashed off Sotra by Bergen. The accident has strongly affected everyone involved and colleagues across the company. It is a strong reminder of the importance of the safety work being undertaken in all our activities,” says Jannicke Nilsson, Equinor’s executive vice president for safety, security, and sustainability.

One Equinor employee died in the accident. The five other people on board the helicopter survived. They worked for Bristow on assignment for Equinor.

The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority is investigating the course of events and the causal factors leading to the accident. The police are also investigating the accident. Equinor is cooperating closely with the helicopter operator Bristow Norway and relevant authorities in following up the incident. In addition, Equinor is conducting an inhouse investigation of the accident, focusing on helicopter safety in search and rescue (SAR) and emergency handling.

Reduction in the number of injuries

At the end of the first quarter of 2024 the serious incident frequency per million hours worked (SIF) was 0.4, which is equivalent to the level we saw at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023. Serious injuries are also included in the serious incident statistics.

The total recordable injury frequency per million hours worked (TRIF) per the first quarter is 2.3 for the past 12 months, down from 2.4 at the end of 2023.

Twelve oil and gas leaks have been recorded during the past 12 months. Oil and gas leaks are classified by the severity of the leak rate.

There were no serious well control incidents in the first quarter.

Equinor is continuing its work on preventing major accidents by focusing particularly on safety training of leaders and on e-learning courses that are also available to the company’s suppliers.

Through the «Always Safe» annual wheel Equinor cooperates with other operating companies and external suppliers to enhance the understanding of what conditions prevent safe work. In the second quarter we will focus on preventing injuries.

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SOURCE: Equinor ASA