BSEE Director Reaches Out to Federal Agency Partners to Help Address Failures in Safety Equipment

WASHINGTON - In another step to address a critical safety concern involving the failure of subsea bolts offshore, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Brian Salerno is forming an interagency group to focus on the subsea bolt issue and the risks it poses to offshore operations. Director Salerno is calling upon federal partners to work on this critical safety issue as part of BSEE’s Interagency Bolt Action Team.

“The failure of bolts in subsea oil and gas operations presents a major risk for offshore workers and the environment,” Salerno said. “I have challenged offshore operators, drilling companies, manufacturers and industry organizations to be more proactive in addressing this safety issue and it makes sense to bring our federal counterparts into this important effort.”

Federal team members including subject-matter experts and regulators from bolts-related industries will work together to identify root causes of the bolt/connector failures, review industry standards, and develop solutions for future safe use of bolts and connectors.

“By engaging with subject matter experts and individuals with knowledge of materials science and metallurgical shearing and corrosion, the team will be the first cross-agency group to address the causes and solutions to the bolt problem,” Salerno said.

BSEE continues to work to address this recurring problem that raises serious safety and environmental hazard concerns. Steps already taken include work with original equipment manufacturers, a BSEE Safety Alert, a quality control study, and a call to industry to develop better standards and practices and to be proactive in remedying the defects seen in bolt failures.

For more information on bolt failure, please click here.