| Country: |
Australia |
| Organisation: |
National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority |
| Regime Scope: |
Health and safety of people engaged in offshore petroleum operations or greenhouse gas storage operations.
Environmental regulation responsibilities - not in jurisdiction.
Oil spill response - not in jurisdiction.
|
| Administering Agency /Arrangements: |
Established under statute i.e. Commonwealth (federal) government agency, a body corporate,CEO reports direct to Commonwealth Minister for Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism and to the State and Northern Territory Ministers via the Ministerial Council on Minerals, Petroleum and Resources, formal external review of operations every 3 years |
| Legislation Type: |
National, two acts and two sets of regulations for Commonwealth waters with ‘mirror’ legislation for State and Northern Territory (NT) waters. |
| Extent Of Government Approval: |
Acceptance of nomination of the operator of a facility, agreement to the scope of validation, acceptance of a safety case or diving safety management system. |
| Nature Of Duties Imposed: |
General OHS duties imposed on operators of facilities, people in control of particular work, employers and other duty-holders, mainly performance based (health and safety risks are reduced to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable) but some occupational health prescription. Regulations require a safety case accepted by NOPSA prior to commencing activities and require operators to operate in accordance with the accepted safety case for their facility/installation. |
| Physical Objects In The Regime: |
Approximately 75 attended, 30 unattended and 70 pipeline facilities comprised of platforms, drilling rigs, FPSOs, FSOs, accommodation vessels, pipelay vessels, erection / dismantling / decommissioning vessels, pipelines. Entry into regime is decided on the basis of the activity performed by the facility. |
| Assurance Mechanisms: |
Inspections of facilities by NOPSA OHS inspectors, Validation in certain circumstances by 3rd party (employed by operator). Enforcement through notices issued by OHS inspectors. |
| Transparency: |
Website, monthly newsletter including numerical inspection and incident data, industry anonymised aggregate health and safety statistics, safety case guidance notes, information brochures |
| Financial Basis: |
Full cost recovery through prescribed levies and cost based levy on major investigations. |
| Profile Author: |
Jane Cutler
Chief Executive Officer
NOPSA |
| Profile Date: |
6 August 2010 |
