(102b) The Regulation of Offshore Process Safety

In the aftermath of the Macondo incident, the U.S. regulatory framework concerning offshore process safety has been debated, reviewed, and revised in the hopes of reducing the likelihood of a similar occurrence.  In an effort to contribute to this critically important discussion, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) held a public hearing titled “Regulatory Approaches to Offshore Oil and Gas Safety.”[1]   The hearing was attended by international experts on safety practices and policies, members of the industry, unions, and stakeholders.  Additionally, the CSB has extensively researched guidance and international regulation concerning offshore process safety through interviews, outreach efforts, and a host of other methods.  The CSB will provide an overview of its key findings and explore various approaches to the regulation of offshore process safety.