COS Safety Shares are advancing offshore safety through transparency.
RUSSELL HOLMES, Center for Offshore Safety
Few industries carry the inherent risks and complexities of offshore drilling and production operations. Whether on deepwater rigs, production platforms or support vessels, conditions are harsh and unpredictable, with the margin for error very small. Apply that reality to an industry the size and scope of the U.S. offshore—Center for Offshore Safety (COS) members logged more than 55 million work hours in the U.S. during 2023—and the stakes are, indeed, very high. People, equipment and systems must perform flawlessly under pressure, because even small missteps can carry serious consequences.
Recognizing this dynamic, the COS established the COS Safety Shares program in 2013, turning real-world incidents into industry-wide learning opportunities. Fig. 1. Through anonymized reports of actual offshore events, Safety Shares offer insight into what went wrong, what caused it, and how it can be prevented, providing operators with actionable information that informs day-to-day decision-making and safety strategies. In an industry that demands precision and ongoing vigilance, the Safety Shares program is producing measurable reductions in industry incidents.
When we speak about incidents, we’re referring to events that result in injury, equipment damage, environmental impact or operational disruption, and near misses that highlight areas for improvement. COS classifies these through a set of Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs), which range from the most serious—a fatality—to what are referred to as high-value learning events (HVLE), incidents that resulted in less-serious consequences, or near-misses that nevertheless evoked valuable learnings.
By reporting and sharing these incidents in a structured, anonymized format, COS ensures that lessons learned become actionable insights that the entire industry can use to strengthen procedures, improve training and ultimately reduce risk. In doing so, the Safety Shares program has quickly become one of the most practical tools available to help offshore teams increase safety protocols.
HOW IT WORKS: TURNING EVENTS INTO EVERYDAY LEARNING
Each COS Safety Share begins with a brief, anonymized description of a real incident that occurred during offshore operations in the U.S. or somewhere around the world, Fig. 2. Submitted voluntarily by COS member companies, these summaries highlight what happened, what went wrong, and the steps taken to address the issue.
Typically one page in length, each Safety Share is organized around operational themes, such as dropped objects, mechanical lifting or process safety. Each is presented without company names or identifying details—anonymity that encourages voluntary sharing and open reflection.
Most cases highlight a critical point. For instance, even routine tasks, if procedures aren’t followed or equipment isn’t properly maintained, can result in an incident.
In addition to COS, several other trade organizations publish Safety Share-like notices (i.e. Safety Alerts), which are submitted by their members throughout the year. Collectively, these create a continuous feedback loop of lessons learned across the global drilling and maritime communities. Together, COS and other organizations offer complementary approaches to advancing offshore safety through transparency.
New Safety Shares are available for free download from the COS website, and their concise format makes them ideal for discussion during pre-job meetings, to personalize the consequences of real-world decision-making and actions. For example, if a team is performing a task involving confined space entry, companies may choose from among several Safety Shares that highlight this activity and potential risk scenarios.
FROM THE FRONT LINES TO MEASURABLE RESULTS
It bears emphasis: the Safety Shares program is not required by regulation, and COS and its members participate voluntarily. Despite this, the program has gained broad support across the industry, producing a tangible cultural shift grounded in transparency, accountability and proactive learning. In an industry where operational risks are constant, speaking openly about what went wrong requires both confidence and maturity.
Recent Safety Shares cover a range of scenarios: a corroded pipe segment falling during decommissioning, a service vessel downline contacting a mooring line and a sheave assembly failing during a heavy lift. Some are routine; others are high-consequence. But all serve to help teams recognize where small gaps in procedure, communication or inspection can lead to serious outcomes.
This kind of structured, shared learning is producing measurable results. In 2023, COS member companies:
Reported zero fatalities and zero Level 1 or Level 2 well control incidents.
Achieved a fourth consecutive year of decline in serious incidents.
Reduced mechanical lifting incidents (SPI 4) by 51%, compared to 2020.
Recorded a five-year low in high-consequence lifting events (SPI 2C).
These numbers are even more impressive, considering that COS member companies logged more than 55.5 million work hours in 2023, nearly 10 million more than in 2021. These improvements reflect a workforce engaged in continual learning and a culture that values shared responsibility.
PART OF A BROADER COMMITMENT TO SEMS AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
The COS Safety Shares program reflects COS’s broader mission: to minimize risks and protect the health and safety of workers, the environment and nearby communities.
At the heart of COS’s effort lies Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS), a comprehensive set of management practices and requirements for offshore operators and contractors that are designed to increase the safety of personnel, protect the environment and prevent accidents, Fig. 3.
Central to SEMS is API Recommended Practice 75, Recommended Practice for a Safety and Environmental Management System for Offshore Operations and Assets (now in its 4th edition), which provides a systematic approach for identifying and managing operational risks. Each updated edition expands the reach of SEMS by incorporating advancements in technology and enhanced risk controls.
Safety Shares bring this system-level approach into daily operations. By analyzing real-world incidents and framing them through a SEMS lens — what went wrong, what piece of equipment failed, what missed procedure may have contributed— Safety Shares help reinforce SEMS principles in the field.
RAISING THE BAR FOR OFFSHORE SAFETY
As offshore operations expand and grow more complex, the need for a shared learning platform has never been greater. COS Safety Shares meet that need by offering a structured, field-tested approach to learning from real incidents, which has led to measurable improvements in offshore safety performance.
By transforming real-world incidents into practical insight, Safety Shares provide an effective mechanism for industry-wide learning, fostering better decision-making, reducing risk and contributing to safer and more resilient offshore operations.
To learn more about the Safety Shares program, visit www.centerforoffshoresafety.org. WO
RUSSELL HOLMES is director of the Center for Offshore Safety, an industry-led initiative focused on advancing safety and environmental protection on the Outer Continental Shelf. He came to the center in 2020 after 27 years of active-duty service with the U.S Coast Guard, where he rose to the rank of captain. Mr. Holmes was the Coast Guard’s public face and central point of contact to the offshore oil and natural gas industry as Eighth District Officer in Charge, Marine Inspections, Investigations, and Federal Maritime Security Coordinator for the Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America.