OIL & GAS: OFFSHORE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
OFFSHORE CONTRACTORS
ASSOCIATION
BACKGROUND TO THE OCA
The Offshore Contractors’ Association (OCA) is the lead
representative body for offshore contractor companies
working in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS).
Based in Aberdeen, Scotland, the organisation was established
in 1995 to look after the interests of companies involved in
a range of activities, including mechanical, electrical and
allied services, construction, modifications and maintenance
work, design and project engineering, fabrication and
decommissioning.
The organisation has over 50 full and associate members
with a combined turnover in excess of £3 billion; a workforce
of more than 10,000 employees and a presence on virtually
every installation on the UKCS.
The vision is to represent the UK’s oil and gas contracting
industry; build and use influence; promote sustainable
business for members; collectively tackle the challenges facing
members in a mature UKCS; above all, to demonstrate world
class safety performance.
THE OFFSHORE CONTRACTORS PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT
The OCA negotiates with the GMB and Unite minimum
standards of pay and conditions for offshore workers in the
North Sea on behalf of its members. The organisation and
signatory Trade Unions are fully committed to encouraging
all their members to provide a safe and healthy working
environment and to that end are constantly monitoring the
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performance of their members as part of the Partnership
Agreement.
Although the downturn of the oil and gas sector has
brought renewed pressure on cost reduction, the OCA remains
absolutely committed to promoting a safe and healthy
working environment.
THE OCA APPROACH TO SAFETY IN THE CURRENT
ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
The fall in the price of Brent Crude over the last two years
has forced everyone to reassess their working practices. The
OCA has established two working groups that are focused
on key industry challenges as outlined in the Wood Review
and its objective of maximising economic recovery from the
North Sea. While the first is focussed on cost and production
efficiency, the OCA places equal weight on the second group
whose remit is entirely safety.
The Safety Working Group is committed to maintaining
and strengthening a sustainable, safer working environment
for the entire offshore workforce. Established less than two
years ago, it is comprised of delegates from across the OCA’s
full member companies. This collaborative group is currently
working on a number of initiatives including: rota change
management; scaffolding; and guidance on best practice when
using barriers.