IMCA Newsroom

Press Release

IMCA HELPS MEMBERS HEAD TO THE HOLY GRAIL OF ZERO ACCIDENTS

Safety lies at the heart of all IMCA - International Marine Contractors Association - activities; and like all involved in offshore activity, the ‘holy grail' is "zero accidents".

IMCA uses the 'safety flash' system to notify members about incidents that have recently occurred and highlight the lessons learnt from them that can help prevent such incidents re-occurring elsewhere in the industry. In 2002 IMCA issued eleven such flashes, covering 33 incidents, to members and posted summaries on the IMCA website. Each contains information on some half a dozen incidents. All contributions to these flashes should be sent to imca@imca-int.com - they are then anonymised and agreed with the sender before distribution.

In addition to the safety flashes, the association has long published annual safety statistics based on reports from its members. These have, in the past, concentrated on ‘lagging performance indicators'. Like the safety flashes, these highlight why accidents have happened and help companies learn from their own experience and the experience of their peers.

When published in 2004, the statistics for 2003 will also include ‘leading performance indicators' - to show the measures that companies have put in place to prevent accidents happening. "These are positive and proactive moves towards eliminating accidents, and we would like to encourage all our members to consider the IMCA suite of leading indicators they have implemented when sending us their accident data," says Jane Bugler, Technical Director of IMCA.

"Put simply, a leading performance indicator is in effect taking a HAZOP study and putting in place steps to prevent the unacceptable happening. Talking it over with someone the other day, an example came quickly to mind - a rather elderly stair carpet featuring the odd hole or two had just been replaced. Its replacement could be judged to be a 'leading performance indicator' preventing accidents on the staircase.

"When we sent out an information note to members proposing new leading performance indicators we were told by a number of companies that the data required for such indicators already exists in house and can be easily provided. Therefore we are specifically asking members for leading performance indicators for safety observation frequency rating (SOFR); injury events reporting level (RAL); line management visit rating (MVR); and lessons learned rating (LLR).

Further information on IMCA's safety flashes and safety statistics is available from the IMCA offices.

Notes to Editors (common)

• IMCA is an international association with over 450 members in more than 50 countries, representing offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies. IMCA has four technical divisions, covering marine/specialist vessel operations, offshore diving, hydrographic survey and remote systems and ROVs, plus geographic sections for the Americas Deepwater, Asia-Pacific, Europe & Africa and Middle East & India regions, as well as a core focus on safety, the environment, competence and training. IMCA seeks to promote its members' common interests, to resolve industry-wide issues and to provide an authoritative voice for its members.
• IMCA publishes some 200 guidance notes and technical reports. These have been developed over the years and are widely distributed. They are a definition of what IMCA stands for, including widely recognised diving and ROV codes of practice, DP documentation, marine good practice guidance, the Common Marine Inspection Document, safety recommendation, outline training syllabi and the IMCA competence scheme guidance. In addition to the range of printed guidance documents, IMCA also produces safety promotional materials, circulates information notes and safety flashes.
• Judith Patten is here to help you if you want any additional information on IMCA; would like to discuss a feature article; want to organise interviews with key members of the IMCA team, etc.