• The audit was conducted in March 2026.
  • Notifications of the orders were sent to Equinor and OSM Offshore on 25 September 2026
  • The orders were issued on 4 November 2026.

The audit focussed on both Equinor, as operator of the Heidrun field, and OSM Offshore, as the responsible shipping company, responsible for operation, maintenance and modifications of Heidrun B.

Objective

The objective of the audit was to verify that working environment conditions and the management of working environment risk on Heidrun B comply with regulatory requirements and thereby reduce health risks and errors.

Result

During the audit, we made several observations indicating that the management of working environment risk for personnel on Heidrun B did not comply with the petroleum regulations. This applied to chemical exposure, ergonomics/manual handling, the organisational and psychosocial working environment, including working hours, as well as follow-up in the form of preventive and compensatory measures.

The audit identified 13 non-conformities. These concerned:

  • Equinor's obligations with respect to persons other than its own employees on Heidrun B (Equinor)
  • Governing document for the follow-up of working environment risk and working hours (OSM)
  • Competence (OSM)
  • Analyses of the working environment (OSM)
  • Human factors analyses in the central control room (Equinor)
  • Follow-up of chemical health hazards (OSM)
  • Register of at-risk workers (OSM)
  • Ergonomic factors (OSM)
  • Organisational and psychosocial working environment (OSM) 3
  • Registration and follow-up of working hours (OSM)
  • Health and safety personnel (OSM)
  • Use of the Norwegian language (OSM)
  • Employee participation (OSM)

Order to Equinor

During the audit, a number of observations were made regarding the technical solutions and design of Heidrun B, which mean that those working onboard are, among other things, exposed to chemicals. We refer to non-conformity 5.1.1 in the report regarding Equinor’s obligations with respect to persons other than its own employees, and, in this context, to factors relating to chemical exposure in the form of benzene, among other things.

On this basis, Havtil has issued Equinor with the following order:

Pursuant to the Framework Regulations, Section 69 concerning administrative decisions, cf. the Working Environment Act, Section 2-2 concerning duties of the employer towards persons other than own employees, first paragraph, litera a, cf. the Regulations concerning the Performance of Work, Section 3-11 concerning Specific measures for working with carcinogenic or mutagenic chemicals, first paragraph, cf. Section 3-8 concerning measures against risks caused by chemicals, first paragraph, litera a, cf. the Facilities Regulations, Section 15 concerning chemicals and chemical exposure, first paragraph, Equinor is ordered to:

1. Identify, investigate and prioritise technical measures on Heidrun B relating to

- venting of crude oil tanks

­- atmospheric vents

­- crude oil sampling points

­- welding fumes in the welding shop

in order to reduce the risk of exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproductive toxic chemicals.

Where it is not technically feasible to use a closed system, steps shall be taken to ensure that exposure is kept as low as possible, and at an entirely justifiable level, through designing and organising the workplace.

The status and progress of the work relating to point 1 of the order shall be presented to Havtil at status meetings held on 11 December 2026 from 12:00 to 14:00, and on 16 March 2027 from 12:00 to 14:00.

2. Draw up a time-delimited and binding plan to implement the selected measures, with reference to point 1) of the order. The plan must sent to Havtil.

The deadline for complying with point 1 of the order is 3 May 2027.

The deadline for complying with point 2 of the order is 19 May 2027.

We are to be notified when the orders have been carried out.

Order to OSM Offshore

We have identified serious breaches of the regulations; see non-conformity 5.1.6 regarding the monitoring of chemical health hazards in the attached audit report.

On this basis, Havtil has issued OSM Offshore with the following order:

Pursuant to the Framework Regulations, Section 69 concerning administrative decisions, cf. the Activities Regulations, Section 24 concerning procedures, second paragraph, cf. Section 36 concerning chemical health hazards, first paragraph, OSM Offshore AS is ordered to:

Revise and implement a procedure for venting crude oil tanks and reopening decks on Heidrun B, which ensures that harmful exposure to benzene and other hazardous chemicals is avoided.

The procedure must at least include a description of:

  • Roles and responsibilities relating to measurements, preparation and opening of decks.
  • What measurements should be taken in connection with the venting of crude oil tanks and the reopening of decks, including:
    • criteria for when measurements should be taken
    • where and how the measurements should be taken
    • what measuring equipment to use
    • criteria for the reopening of hatches following the venting of crude oil tanks
  • How measurement results should be documented.
  • Technical and operational barriers, including any barriers to be established in connection with venting.
  • Requirements regarding personal protective equipment when on deck in connection with measurements and when preparing to open decks.

The deadline for complying with the order is 13 November 2026. We are to be notified when the order has been carried out.