Defective and deficient maintenance has often proved to be a contributory factor in major accidents. The potential for major accidents means that safety work in general and the maintenance of safety-critical equipment are the focus of great attention in the petroleum industry.
On commission from the PSA, DNV has conducted a study compiling information on the companies' assessment of the effect of maintenance, how they evaluate maintenance systematically based on data recorded on the performance and technical condition of facilities or parts thereof, and how the assessment is used for continuous improvement of the maintenance programme.
The study was limited to operators of fixed facilities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and emphasised the opportunities for improving safety as well as the risks and uncertainties that deficient and defective maintenance may entail.