An improved approach to inspections in 2022
Following public comment, NOPSEMA is finalising its policy outlining an improved approach to the way it programs inspections. The policy will be published in the coming weeks.
While NOPSEMA has always strived to be a world-class regulator, recent events including the COVID-19 pandemic, the decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour, and the Australian Government’s deregulation agenda has prompted improvements to our approach to our inspections so we remain effective.
Our improved approach seeks to balance the regular inspection of all facilities and activities with the need to have resources available to undertake more frequent inspections of facilities and activities posing a higher risk or likelihood of non-compliance.
This doesn’t change the fact that duty holders will continue to be responsible for managing and reducing the OHS, well integrity and environmental management, risks that they create.
Duty holders are encouraged to read the policy as it sets out a baseline, or minimum frequency for inspections. More importantly, it sets out the factors that may drive NOPSEMA to undertake more frequent inspections, such as the complexity of the activity and the stage of life of the asset.
Our inspections will be driven by the inherent and emerging risks to the health and safety of the offshore workforce, well integrity and risks to and impacts on the environment. However, a duty holder’s previous compliance record, their attitude and behaviour, strategic factors, external pressures, and latent risks will also be considered.
A key improvement to our approach to inspections is the provision of formal conclusions in NOPSEMA’s inspection reports. These conclusions will clearly communicate to the duty holder the inspectors findings and observations as they relate to risk or compliance.
Where a conclusion relates to serious non-compliance, immediate threat, or significant risk, NOPSEMA will consider enforcement action.
Where it relates to other non-compliance, if NOPSEMA is reasonably satisfied the duty holder can and will address it in a timely manner, then NOPSEMA will request details of the actions that have or will be taken to address the non-compliance.