HSE statement on risks from process isolation failures

HSE raises concerns about major accident hazard risks from process isolation failures in the offshore industry.  https://press.hse.gov.uk/2025/12/17/offshore-process-isolation-failures-present-major-accident-hazard-risk An Inspector stated that ”while most UK operators have isolation procedures that broadly follow HSG 253 (the guidance on safe isolation of plant and equipment) the problem is that people are not following them”.   HSE inspections have identified critical gaps in offshore isolation practices:

• Company standards failing to meet HSG 253 requirements
• Poor hazard identification
• Inadequate isolation planning
• Inaccurate piping and instrumentation diagrams
• Missing or inadequate method statements