"Working together to solve health and safety
challenges"
HSE has a longstanding history of supporting science and
research to address a range of cross-sector health and safety
issues.

Building on this heritage, we provide a platform to identify and
co-fund applied research projects that are of interest to both
industry and regulatory bodies.
Contributing partners can help to shape the research activity
and get exclusive early sight of the results, allowing them to
improve their management of emerging H&S challenges in their
business, assured of alignment with HSE priorities.
How does HSE's Shared Research work?
We run a number of research projects. Each project begins with a
recognised gap in knowledge that HSE and industry stakeholders see
a need to fill, to help us understand and ultimately better manage
health and safety challenges.
We then invite regulatory, industry and other stakeholders to
discuss the idea in more detail, and put together a research
project that will help improve our collective understanding and
knowledge. The project is led by HSE experts, often making use of
the facilities provided by our Science and Research Centre in
Buxton.
Industry and other stakeholders are then invited to contribute
towards funding the research project. HSE also supports the
projects financially. Typically, we will seek several sponsoring
organisations to ensure we can undertake the best research to
answer the H&S needs we've all identified.
How to get involved
For more information, please contact us at: shared.research@hse.gov.uk
What topics do we research?
<REGISTER INTEREST> Studying the Safety Critical Offshore
Application of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic Engineered Composite
Repairs (ECRs)

In 2020 a Shared Research Project (ECR1) sponsored by HSE,
operators and repair suppliers was completed. ECR1 focused on a
number of key areas such as: quality assurance and integrity
management; inspection; in-service performance; and human factors.
This resulted in the release of an industry-leading Good Practice
Guide.
Whilst ECR1 represented a significant step forward, both HSE and
industry recognise that there are still knowledge gaps associated
with the long-term integrity of composite repairs.
ECR2 will seek to build on the learnings of ECR1 through a
detailed evaluation of recently decommissioned repairs from a
safety critical application.
Download
the project overview (PDF)
Contact us for more information about this project at shared.research@hse.gov.uk
<REGISTER INTEREST> Optimising Offshore Working
Patterns
Over the past few years, shift
rotas have changed significantly on the UK Continental Shelf and
there is now more variation than ever in shift patterns and working
arrangements.
However, the health and safety effects of longer offshore tours
of duty have received very little attention or research. Given
current industry shift pattern trends, there is a pressing need to
address these gaps and develop an evidence base for further
industry guidance.
In October 2019, HSE held a workshop in Aberdeen to discuss the
options for shared research regarding optimising offshore working
patterns.
Following this workshop, a programme of work has been developed
that seeks to improve our understanding of the impact of different
types of offshore working patterns on fatigue and associated health
and safety performance by establishing a body of evidence relating
to shift design, intershift recovery and fatigue risk management
practices.
Funding partners for this programme of work are
currently being sought.
Download the Optimising Offshore Working Patterns shared research
technical work packages overview (PDF)
For further details, please contact Paul Grant - paul.grant@hse.gov.uk
<IN PROGRESS> Remote Visual Inspection: Opportunities and
Limitations

Visual inspection of tanks, vessels and pipework is a
cornerstone of the examination process and is often the primary
means of defect detection, sizing and diagnosis. Technology now
makes replacing the direct human element of visual inspection
possible, and remote visual imaging could be used to undertake
these parts of the examination process. This is of particular
interest in the high hazard industries, where intrusive human
intervention, for example vessel entry, could be reduced.
The limitations of the technology have yet to be fully explored,
and no meaningful comparison has yet been made with the established
standards for visual inspection. Numerous variables and the impact
they may have on defect and corrosion diagnosis, and hence
integrity, have yet to be considered.
Contact us for more information about this project at shared.research@hse.gov.uk
<IN PROGRESS> Further work towards area classification
for oil mists (MISTS2)
Mists of high-flashpoint fluids such as hydraulic
oils, lubricating oils, diesel and heavier fuels can ignite and
produce explosions at temperatures below their flashpoints.
There is a legal requirement to consider hazardous area
classification for flammable mists. Whilst area classification for
explosive gases is well established, available guidance for
flammable mists is limited, brief and largely qualitative when it
comes to controls for such risks.
Following on from a successful joint research project on the
formation and mitigation of flammable mists [MISTS1], this current
project seeks to further develop our knowledge and understanding of
the formation and mitigation of flammable mists.
Contact us for more information about this project
at shared.research@hse.gov.uk
<IN PROGRESS> Corrosion of Bolted Flanged Joints

Corroded bolted flanged joints are widespread in offshore
operations and establishing their condition and on-going integrity
is important for safe and reliable operations.
Despite the prevalence of such joints, there is currently a lack
of evidence based guidance on corrosion allowance and discard
criteria for studs, bolts and nut assemblies. As such, many
operators have developed their own internal guidance and methods
which can vary widely.
It is important that an accurate assessment of the condition of
such assemblies can be made and that the remaining strength - and
therefore likely remaining lifespan - can be estimated to allow
better targeting of Risk Based Inspections.
Through an empirical testing programme, this project aims to
provide an evidence base to underpin integrity decisions.
Benefits are expected to be safer, more reliable, efficient
operations.
Download
the Corrosion of Bolted Flanged Joints shared research proposal
(PDF)
Contact us for more information about this project at shared.research@hse.gov.uk