The Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc.) Regulations 1996

PART IIE+W+S INTEGRITY OF INSTALLATIONS

General dutyE+W+S

4.—(1) The duty holder shall ensure that an installation at all times possesses such integrity as is reasonably practicable.

(2) The provisions contained in regulations 5 to 10 are without prejudice to the generality of the provision contained in this regulation.

Design of an installationE+W+S

5.—(1) The duty holder shall ensure that the designs to which an installation is to be or in the event is constructed are such that, so far as is reasonably practicable—

(a)it can withstand such forces acting on it as are reasonably foreseeable;

(b)its layout and configuration, including those of its plant, will not prejudice its integrity;

(c)fabrication, transportation, construction, commissioning, operation, modification, maintenance and repair of the installation may proceed without prejudicing its integrity;

(d)it may be decommissioned and dismantled safely; and

(e)in the event of reasonably foreseeable damage to the installation it will retain sufficient integrity to enable action to be taken to safeguard the health and safety of persons on or near it.

(2) The duty holder shall ensure that an installation is composed of materials which are—

(a)suitable, having regard to the requirement in regulation 4; and

(b)so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficiently proof against or protected from anything liable to prejudice its integrity.

Work to an installationE+W+S

6.  The duty holder shall ensure that work of fabrication, construction, commissioning, modification, maintenance and repair of an installation, and activity in preparation for the positioning of an installation, are carried out in such a way that, so far as is reasonably practicable, its integrity is secured.

Operation of an installationE+W+S

7.—(1) The duty holder shall ensure that the installation is not operated in such a way as may prejudice its integrity.

(2) The duty holder shall ensure that the installation is not operated unless—

(a)appropriate limits within which it is to be operated; and

(b)the environmental conditions in which it may safely operate,

have been recorded.

(3) The duty holder shall ensure that a record of the matters described in paragraph (2) is kept on the installation, readily available to any person involved in its operation.

(4) The duty holder shall ensure that the matters described in paragraph (2) are reviewed as often as may be appropriate.

Maintenance of integrityE+W+S

8.—(1) The duty holder shall ensure that suitable arrangements are in place for maintaining the integrity of the installation, including suitable arrangements for—

(a)periodic assessment of its integrity; and

(b)the carrying out of remedial work in the event of damage or deterioration which may prejudice its integrity.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply—

(a)to a fixed installation while its structure is not yet established at the location at which it is to be operated; or

(b)to a mobile installation under construction which is not yet able to be moved.

Reporting of danger to an installationE+W+S

9.—(1) The duty holder shall ensure that, F1... after the appearance of evidence of a significant threat to the integrity of an installation, a report is made to the Executive in writing identifying such threat and specifying any action taken or to be taken to avert it.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to anything of which [F2the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013] require a report to be made.

[F3(3) The report must be made—

(a)where the installation is in external waters, within 10 working days after the appearance of evidence of the significant threat; and

(b)in any other case, within 10 days after the appearance of that evidence.

(4) In paragraph (3) “working days” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of Great Britain.]

Decommissioning and dismantlementE+W+S

10.  The duty holder shall ensure that an installation is decommissioned and dismantled in such a way that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it will possess sufficient integrity to enable such decommissioning and dismantlement to be carried out safely.