The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a response to the consultation held in Summer 2025 on Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and offshore hydrogen production.
View the response at our consultations website.
The consultation set out proposed amendments to existing health and safety regulations to extend their application to offshore CCUS activities, including the transport of dangerous fluids in pipelines, as well as to offshore hydrogen production.
We encouraged feedback on proposals to regularise the arrangements for transport, accommodation, and subsistence provided to inspectors offshore, extending these requirements to offshore wind installations.
We invited stakeholders and other interested parties to comment on the suitability of the proposals in addressing the hazards linked to CCUS and offshore hydrogen production, as well as on the accuracy of the estimated costs for industry to comply with the new requirements.
Responses to the consultation broadly supported the proposals and HSE has proceeded to:
- make carbon dioxide a dangerous fluid for pipelines involved in CCUS operations
- extend offshore legislation to installations and wells involved in CCUS and offshore hydrogen production
- require dutyholders of offshore wind installations to provide appropriate transport, accommodation and subsistence to inspectors carrying out inspection work offshore. In response to feedback this proposal does not specify the mode of transport dutyholders are required to use to transport inspectors
Changes will be made through:
- The Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage and Offshore Hydrogen Production (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 (CCUS 26); and
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application Outside Great Britain) (Variation) Order 2026.
Both regulations will also come into force on 6 April 2026.
Further information, including additional guidance, will be made available on the HSE website in due course.
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