TEESSIDE SCAFFOLDER
Well-known member
The RMT's Jake Molloy has called for improved communication between staff and bosses, following several recent helicopter incidents in the North Sea.
Jake Molloy of the RMT union has claimed that offshore workers are not being kept in the loop about safety investigations by their employers.
At the end of a year which has seen several helicopter emergencies and an oil rig evacuation, Mr Molloy believes bosses must communicate better with their staff.
He said: "These kind of incidents will never be eradicated. But what we can try to do is reduce the number of incidents and improve communication.
"If a worker is being updated with all the latest from an investigation, then it builds trust, confidence and respect between the worker and the employer.
"Companies have to be more open and transparent."
Mr Molloy believes his members are being left in the dark too often and insists it is not sufficient for oil companies to treat emergencies as routine situations.
He told the Evening Express: "They are going on these aircraft which are running all day and night for 365 days a year.
"It is a trapped audience who will be on a helicopter about 26 times a year."
"Nothing can prepare you for the noise, the smells and having three layers of protective clothing on, as well as a four-point harness.
"It's not like a normal flight, where you go into the clouds. You see all the way. And you really feel how far away from land you are and how isolated the installation [rig platform] is. It is a different world."
A spokeswoman for CHC Helicopters responded by arguing that communication between management and those flying out to the North Sea was a priority.
She said: "We are experiencing an unprecedented collaboration between operators, aircraft manufacturers, oil-and-gas companies, regulators, unions and others. Our shared objective is to ensure the airworthiness of the global industry fleet and the safety of all passengers and crew."
Jake Molloy of the RMT union has claimed that offshore workers are not being kept in the loop about safety investigations by their employers.
At the end of a year which has seen several helicopter emergencies and an oil rig evacuation, Mr Molloy believes bosses must communicate better with their staff.
He said: "These kind of incidents will never be eradicated. But what we can try to do is reduce the number of incidents and improve communication.
"If a worker is being updated with all the latest from an investigation, then it builds trust, confidence and respect between the worker and the employer.
"Companies have to be more open and transparent."
Mr Molloy believes his members are being left in the dark too often and insists it is not sufficient for oil companies to treat emergencies as routine situations.
He told the Evening Express: "They are going on these aircraft which are running all day and night for 365 days a year.
"It is a trapped audience who will be on a helicopter about 26 times a year."
"Nothing can prepare you for the noise, the smells and having three layers of protective clothing on, as well as a four-point harness.
"It's not like a normal flight, where you go into the clouds. You see all the way. And you really feel how far away from land you are and how isolated the installation [rig platform] is. It is a different world."
A spokeswoman for CHC Helicopters responded by arguing that communication between management and those flying out to the North Sea was a priority.
She said: "We are experiencing an unprecedented collaboration between operators, aircraft manufacturers, oil-and-gas companies, regulators, unions and others. Our shared objective is to ensure the airworthiness of the global industry fleet and the safety of all passengers and crew."
