“The tragic and preventable death of Michael Jurman has left a profound and lasting impact on his family, friends and workers in the sector. This tragedy cannot be undone, but we must meaningfully strengthen safety laws for offshore workers, and we must do it now.”
Close The Health and Safety Gaps for Workers Offshore
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Close the health and safety gaps for workers offshore
Every worker has the right to a safe and healthy working environment. Recognised as one of Australia’s most high-risk jobs, offshore oil and gas workers and seafarers are required to undertake dangerous tasks in some of the most remote and isolated parts of the planet.
Not only are these workers exposed to both serious physical and psychological hazards, but they also have among the least rights of any workers in Australia. The offshore health and safety laws are outdated, inconsistent and are missing key protections.
Thousands of offshore workers don’t even have coverage by any Australian safety legislation or work health and safety regulator.
What we're calling for
Same Safety Rights
Offshore workers and seafarers should have the same protections as onshore workers, with stronger safeguards where the risks demand it.
End the Penalty Discount
Include industrial manslaughter. Maximum penalties under offshore frameworks are just 5.6% and 1.6% of the model Work Health and Safety Act. Offshore and maritime penalties must match (or exceed) onshore, these are giant companies with giant profits.
Australian Laws for Australian Projects
Cover every worker on offshore oil and gas projects under Australian WHS laws, with access to an Australian safety regulator.
The consequences are not theoretical
The deaths of Michael Jurman, Andrew Kelly, and David Ingram illustrate the human cost of an offshore safety regime that does not provide workers with the same protections afforded onshore.
Real stories from offshore workers
Case Studies
Michael Jurman
On 2 June 2023, Rope Access Technician Michael Jurman was killed while performing maintenance work at height on Woodside’s North Rankin platform, 135km off the coast of Karratha, WA. Almost three years later, his family and workmates are still awaiting the outcome of the investigation.
Andrew Kelly
In July 2015, Andrew was crushed to death when a wave came over the stern of the Bahamas-flag offshore supply vessel Skandi Pacific, shifting deck cargo. Andrew was 39 years old. He left behind a wife and four children, all under the age of ten. Although he was working on a Chevron project supplying gas to WA, no Australian work health and safety legislation applied to his death – and thousands of workers are still in this situation.
Anthony Black
An offshore mechanical fitter, was repeatedly exposed to highly toxic chemicals while working off the Western Australian coast, using inadequate safety controls despite safer alternatives being available. He was given welding gloves instead of chemical‑resistant PPE, with no wash facilities, air monitoring or health surveillance, leaving him with a lifelong chemical sensitivity that now affects everyday activities. When Anthony raised safety concerns, he was intimidated, pressured to stay quiet, and threatened. After speaking up, he was dismissed. His case shows how weaker offshore laws expose workers to preventable harm and punish those who speak up.
Simon Black
is an Electrical and Instrumentation Technician working on a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel off the Western Australian coast. Simon has seen essential safety protections fall away offshore: electrical licensing is only required if an operator chooses to include it, high‑risk work being performed without mandatory competency checks, and workers are expected to pay for their own safety verification. When unsafe PPE was introduced without consultation, concerns were dismissed, and union access to the vessel can be blocked altogether. His experience shows how weaker offshore laws leave safety standards to employer discretion, exposing workers to preventable risks in one of Australia’s most dangerous industries.
Workers are paying the price
8x
more likely to be exposed to physical hazards than onshore workers
1 in 2
offshore workers reported sustaining at least one injury in the previous 12 months
1 in 4
offshore workers report experiencing pressure from management not to report health and safety issues
It’s time to close the loopholes
Unions have secured a commitment from the Federal Government to review the laws governing seafarers and offshore workers to close these gaps. This review, which is due later this year, must ensure that offshore workers are afforded the same rights and protections as all other workers in Australia.
It’s time to close the loopholes and bring offshore safety in line with onshore safety laws.
Get involved in the campaign
Union members are fighting for equal safety protections for offshore workers. The Federal Government is reviewing offshore safety laws this year – now is the time to act.
Together, we can close the loopholes and ensure every worker comes home safe.
Contact Your MP
Write to your federal representative about offshore safety reform. Workers deserve equal protections regardless of where they work.
Find your MP Join Your Union
Stand together with workers fighting for change. Union members have won every safety improvement in Australian history.
Join your union Share the Campaign
Help spread the word on social media and in your workplace. Download resources and share with your networks.
Share Unequal Protection: The Offshore Safety Gap
| Protection | Onshore | Offshore Oil & Gas | Maritime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duty to consult workers on safety changes | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Mandatory licence for high-risk work | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Union right of entry for WHS | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Industrial manslaughter provisions | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Health monitoring | ✔ | ✘ | Limited |
| Maximum penalty | $20.4M + 20 years prison | $1.15M, no prison | $330K, no prison |
How you can help
Every worker deserves to come home safe. Here's how you can support the campaign for better offshore safety laws.
01.
Learn
Understand the gaps in offshore safety legislation that put workers at risk. Offshore workers face 8x more physical hazards than onshore workers.
02.
Share
Spread the word about this campaign with your workmates, friends, family and community. The more people aware, the louder our voice.
03.
Act
Sign the petition and contact your federal MP. Demand stronger protections and equal safety rights for offshore workers.
