Safety Survey Using Piper Alpha Disaster Evidence
Authors: Hall J.N. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACT
The Piper Alpha Public Inquiry heard 13 months of evidence. In that time much about what happened on the day of the disaster became known. It also became clear that inadequacies existed in accepted industry safety practice. Lord Cullen, the Judge in charge of the Inquiry, reported a considerable part of this evidence in his recent report and recommendations. Conoco wanted to ensure it learned all it could from the Inquiry. It wanted to learn not only from the report, but anything else it could learn directly from the evidence itself. It wanted to check its own safety systems against the evidence. Finally, to enhance safety awareness generally within the company, it wanted to make known to its employees as much as possible about the evidence and the safety lessons it provided.

INTRODUCTION
Immediately following the piper disaster, Conoco - like most companies operating in the UK - thoroughly examined all aspects of its safety policy and practices. TO do this, a number of teams were formed incorporating personnel from production, safety and engineering. Each team reviewed an area for possible safety improvements to its North Sea facilities. These are some of their recommendations:Locate pipeline emergency shut down valves in a safe position. Generally, this meant positioning the valve in the cellar deck close to the top of the riser. Then appropriately protecting the valve from all identifiable sources of explosion and fire.Relocate Viking 'A' and 'B' accommodation to a dedicated support structure. Conoco has two separate multi-platform complexes close together. Quarters on each are on platforms with import pipeline risers. As the water is shallow (100ft) it is realistic to provide a dedicated accommodation support structure. Rather than built two such dedicated units, a single unit at one complex is to be built, with the second complex then unmanned and remotely operated from the first.Mark out escape ways to be visible in dark smoky conditions. Originally the escape routes were full yellow painted roadways, but because these proved slippery in wet conditions black anti-slip tiles were fitted. Yellow photoluminescent discs spaced at regular intervals have now been applied along these routes.Supply grab bags in all bedrooms. All crew members now have by their beds a bright yellow holdall which contains all their survival equipment: survival suit, life jacket, smoke hood, and leather gloves. So in an emergency people can quickly grab their bags as they hurry to their muster station, with less chance of any essential item being forgotten or difficult to find - particularly in dark or smoky conditions.Provide torches in all bedrooms.Mark exits from accommodation. Exit doors have always been illuminated. Now, in addition, all internal walls (at floor level), door frames and door handles are outlined with photoluminescent tape to improve their visibility even in thick smoke.Fit guards on subsea fire pump suction caissons. Prior to fitting these cages it was common industry practice to isolate the fire when divers were working close to the pump suction.