Risk perception and safety on offshore petroleum platforms — Part I: Perception of risk

Abstract

A self-completion survey among petroleum personnel on the Norwegian Continental Shelf was carried out in spring 1990. The survey drew respondents from 5 companies and 8 installations. Out of those staying on the installations at the time in question, 92% replied to a questionnaire concerning risk perception and safety ( n = 915). Factor analysis detected three underlying dimensions of risk perception. The dimensions are presented and an analysis made of differences in perceived risk between various groups of personnel working on the platforms, differences due to phase of work, due to employment conditions (employees in the companies participating in the study versus hired personnel) and during the execution of specific activities. The implications for safety and contingency measures are discussed.