Helicopter Safety

Helicopter safety continues to be a key topic in the oil and gas sector. Helicopters play an important role in transferring the workforce offshore safely. Strengthening the confidence that the entire UKCS workforce has in helicopter travel is central to Step Change in Safety’s Helicopter Safety program of events and engagement.

The energy industry in the UK is serviced by one of the most modern helicopter fleets in the world. It consists of around 70 helicopters, made up of six different airframe types.

Standardised rules for carrying portable electronic devices offshore – Effective 1 July

From 1 July, new rules will take effect for transporting Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) on offshore helicopter flights. These changes are designed to enhance safety and reduce the fire risk posed by lithium-ion batteries.

Offshore Helicopter Safety Leadership Group (OHSLG)

Step Change in Safety has a seat on the Offshore Helicopter Safety Leadership Group (OHSLG). This forum brings together helicopter operators, representatives from the oil and gas sector, trade unions and the UK regulator – the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) – to lead on the subject.

Read more about the work of the CAA here

Downloadable Resources

Looking for helicopter safety resources? Click the link below to explore guidance, tools, and best practices to help keep your workforce safe.

Work Scope

Step Change in Safety addresses cross-industry issues around helicopter safety and works to strengthen confidence in helicopter travel within the UK oil and gas workforce.

It is a platform for sharing information, offering advice, listening and encouraging lessons learned on cross-industry matters that directly influence safety. The group is also working to improve the passenger experience from the terminal to the tea shack.

Passenger Size

Helicopter transportation is vital in the UKCS and ensuring the highest level of safety for all crew and passengers is a priority. Recommendations laid out in the CAA document called CAP1145, which was released in 2014, there was a requirement that all passenger should be compatible with their nearest emergency exit.

In conjunction with The Robert Gordon University, Step Change in Safety determined that all passengers should have their shoulders measured prior to travelling offshore to ensure that they can fit through helicopter emergency exits. This requirement has been in place since 2015 and the process involves the shoulder width of each passenger being measured using an approved set of callipers by a specially trained measurer. For more information, download the Passenger Size resources document.

Passengers are measured to ensure that they allocated a seat nearest to an emergency exit that is compatible with their body size. Those width shoulder widths of below 55.9cm are classified as Regular, while passengers whose shoulder width is 55.9cm or greater are classified as Extra-Broad (XBR), and such seats feature chequered headrests. Every measurement must be added to VANTAGE before an offshore worker can fly in a helicopter. Mobilising operators should be the first port of call for uploading the measurements into the system.

A 1.1cm margin of error exists when a shoulder measurement is taken. This means that all XBR passengers, and any passenger with a shoulder measurement of 54.8cm or above must be re-measured at frequent intervals. Step Change in Safety recommends that this is done at a time aligned with BOSIET expiry.

In order to get an accurate bi-deltoid (shoulder) measurement, a trained measurer must carry out the measurement. All trained personnel have a unique PSTT license number as evidence of their training. Various centres throughout the UK and Europe offer shoulder measurement – view the full list.

Please note that if you are looking for certificates to be issued following a training course you have delivered, the support team will endeavour to get back to you within two working weeks (10 days).