The union for most oil workers off Newfoundland is raising concerns about a push to resume scheduled night flights to remote offshore sites.
Brian Murphy, head of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union for Terra Nova and Hibernia workers, says night flights were restricted in 2010 for good reason.
An inquiry into a deadly helicopter crash off Newfoundland in 2009 heard that the survival rate for a ditching at night falls to about 40 per cent.
That’s 30-per-cent lower than in daylight hours, but oil companies say night flights are sometimes required in the darkest months to avoid backlogs.
Murphy says workers were told offshore regulators are expected to decide by the end of the year whether to resume night flights.
He says the union is pleased with recent search and rescue improvements, but flying after dark is too risky.
Operators of the three major offshore sites could not immediately be reached for comment.
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The union speaks for the majority of offshore workers and dose not do so with out a mandate from membership. with out the union's involvement in these issues the workers would have no say. just the company "yes" man . maybe you could apply for that job. we all know the risks of flying offshore to say go some where else .is just simply child like and indicative of some one who has a narrow view point.some thing tells me you were'nt around when offshore workers were giving multi billion dollar companies 10 free fog days before any form of compensation / pay for hours worked was given. i guess the fact that people who've been working 3on 3 off for last ten years with contractor companies with lil or no benefits being called part-time or casual is ok with you too. we need to advance the benefits and safety of all who work offshore. if you believe that the company will take care of your best interest with out someone to hold them accountable your a dreamer. we all make a good living offshore and the companies prosper as well. holding their feet to the fire on issues of safety and workers rights is the unions responsibility to those it represents. that choice you mentioned of being able to refuse and stay behind if you wanted to. you think you'd have that at all? if the union wasn't representing the majority offshore? again dreamer.