Helicopter landing pads face new safety regs

Helicopter landing pads at offshore oil and gas facilities are facing new safety requirements from the Obama administration.

The Department of the Interior announced Tuesday in the Federal Register that it is considering new rules to reduce the risk of injury or property damage on so-called “helidecks,” the platforms where helicopters land at offshore facilities.

{mosads}The rules from a branch of the Interior Department known as the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) would include new safety standards for the design, construction and maintenance of offshore helidecks. They would also include requirements for the storage and handling of aviation fuel.

While the Federal Aviation Administration regulates helicopters, the BSEE has authority over the landing pads at offshore facilities, the agency said.

The BSEE said it is looking to expand its regulations for helidecks to address safety gaps.

“Recent reports by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference confirm that helicopter accidents and helicopter-related incidents on or near offshore facilities are a significant concern,” the agency wrote.

The public has 60 days to comment on the advanced notice of proposed rule-making.