Apache slammed for using trainees to cover offshore shifts in the North Sea
Oil firm Apache has been slammed by the UK's health and safety watchdog for using trainees and apprentices to cover shifts on an offshore North Sea platform.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Apache has been "significantly failing" to meet standards on its Beryl Bravo platform north-east of Aberdeen.
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HSE found that Apache was using "not fully competent" trainees in work shifts, serving the operator with an improvement notice.
The notice states that in November 2017 there was an agreement over having a set number of production technicians and control room operators on shift at any one time.
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However, HSE said that the actual reduction in production technicians had the "potential to increase fatigue and a decreased capacity to carry out critical work scopes which affect health and safety".
Apache, which confirmed the notice earlier today, said that there had been "unforeseen circumstances" that led to the period of reduced manning and subsequent use of ill-prepared workers.