The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) held its first Safety Forum on October 31-November 1, 2011 at the Capital Hotel in St. John’s. The focus of the first forum was helicopter safety. The forum was organized in fulfillment of recommendation 25 of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry (OHSI). Safety Forums will be held twice annually and the focus will eventually broaden beyond helicopter safety to more general offshore safety matters.

The Safety Forum was designed to provide an opportunity to exchange information and share best practices among offshore stakeholders so that safety issues can be proactively identified and addressed. The forum also highlighted areas of particular concern that reduce risk of minor issues and major incidents to a level as low as reasonably practicable.

Max Ruelokke, Chair and CEO of the C-NLOPB, said the Safety Forum was very valuable in obtaining feedback from offshore workers and stakeholders on many of the safety issues surrounding offshore helicopter travel.

“Over the two-day event, the C-NLOPB received very valuable feedback that has identified suggestions for improvement and will assist the C-NLOPB in setting goals and implementing the recommendations of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry,” he said.

Communications was a prevalent theme over the two-day event and there was good discussion around outstanding matters such as night flights, sea states and personal protective equipment.

Participants received an update on the implementation of the OHSI recommendations, the work of the Helicopter Operations Safety Committee and presentations from Cougar Helicopters, personal protective equipment manufacturers and training institutes.

A link to the Safety Forum website is available on the C-NLOPB homepage www.cnlopb.nl.ca. Presentations will be posted on the website and a summary report will be prepared and posted on the Safety Forum website.

Media Contact:
Sean Kelly M.A.,APR, FCPRS
Manager of Public Relations
(709) 778-1418
(709) 689-0713 (cell)
skelly@cnlopb.nl.ca