The National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA) is the occupational health and safety (OHS) regulator for the Australian offshore petroleum industry.

NOPSA is a Commonwealth statutory agency that regulates under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 in Commonwealth waters and equivalent OHS legislation in designated coastal waters of the States and Northern Territory.

NOPSA is currently investigating a fatal accident which occurred on the Karratha Spirit facility during disconnection of the facility from its mooring buoy in response to adverse weather arising from Tropical Cyclone Billy.

The Karratha Spirit is a vessel operated by Teekay Shipping (Australia) Pty Ltd and is located in the Legendre field approximately 105km north of Dampier in Commonwealth waters.

The fatality is reported to have occurred at approximately 8.00pm on Wednesday, December 24, 2008. NOPSA mobilized a team of OHS inspectors who arrived on the facility during the afternoon of December 25, 2008. NOPSA’s OHS inspectors are continuing their investigations.

Tags: National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority