British Drilling Association

Private and voluntary organisations · Trade association

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First report 16 Jan 2024•Latest report 16 Jan 2024

Reports, concerns and published responses

Reports over time

Reports naming this recipient by issue year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Reports
1

Naming this recipient

Published responses
100%

Found for named reports

Concerns addressed
2

Across all linked responses

Stated actions
3

Described in responses

Concerns and recipient responses

Statements from British Drilling Association linked to the concerns in each report. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

  1. Birmingham and Solihull

    AI-generated summary

    Charles Harper · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Charles Harper was struck by the unsecured tail end of coiled polyethylene pipe during dispensing operations on 27 April 2023 and died the following day. The principal concerns were that companies continue to dispense coiled pipe without securing its tail end, and that exclusion zones alone may not adequately protect workers from the unpredictable release of stored energy.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to British Drilling Association; that does not assign responsibility.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to secure the tail end of coiled pipe during dispensing

    Wider context from the report

    “1. A material number of drilling and pipe dispensing companies have in the past, and continue, to dispense coiled pipe without the use of any method of securing the tail end of the pipe coil, contrary to trailer operating manual instructions. 2. The use of exclusion zones may be insufficient alone, and provide a false sense of security, to guard against the risk of a worker being struck by the tail end of a coiled pipe springing in an unpredictable way when stored energy is released at the final stage of dispensing. The trailer manufacturer in this case indicated – although their instructions make it clear the tail end of coiled pipe should always be secured to the trailer, and that clamps/straps were effective in preventing springing of the tail end of coiled pipe - an intention to do further testing around the forces generated when stored energy is released, the effectiveness of clamps and straps to restrain the tail end of coiled pipe, and consideration of cages being installed around trailers; This will take some time and will require collaboration with pipe coil manufacturers and pipe coil dispensers. The HSE indicated the facts will be considered by the relevant sector division who will decide what if any pro-active health and safety action to take; This will also take some time. It appears to me that a number of drilling/pipe dispensing companies who do not always seek to secure the tail end of pipe coil during dispensing, are likely to be members of either The Pipeline Industries Guild and/or British Drilling Association. Both organisations explain on their respective websites an aim is to improve the health and safety of its members. Both organisations are likely to be in a position to take action to alert their members to the risk. ”
    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to British Drilling Association; that does not assign responsibility.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Insufficiency of exclusion zones alone to protect workers from springing coiled pipe tails

    Wider context from the report

    “1. A material number of drilling and pipe dispensing companies have in the past, and continue, to dispense coiled pipe without the use of any method of securing the tail end of the pipe coil, contrary to trailer operating manual instructions. 2. The use of exclusion zones may be insufficient alone, and provide a false sense of security, to guard against the risk of a worker being struck by the tail end of a coiled pipe springing in an unpredictable way when stored energy is released at the final stage of dispensing. The trailer manufacturer in this case indicated – although their instructions make it clear the tail end of coiled pipe should always be secured to the trailer, and that clamps/straps were effective in preventing springing of the tail end of coiled pipe - an intention to do further testing around the forces generated when stored energy is released, the effectiveness of clamps and straps to restrain the tail end of coiled pipe, and consideration of cages being installed around trailers; This will take some time and will require collaboration with pipe coil manufacturers and pipe coil dispensers. The HSE indicated the facts will be considered by the relevant sector division who will decide what if any pro-active health and safety action to take; This will also take some time. It appears to me that a number of drilling/pipe dispensing companies who do not always seek to secure the tail end of pipe coil during dispensing, are likely to be members of either The Pipeline Industries Guild and/or British Drilling Association. Both organisations explain on their respective websites an aim is to improve the health and safety of its members. Both organisations are likely to be in a position to take action to alert their members to the risk. ”
    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Remind members to follow documented Safe Systems of Work and manufacturer instructions when using work equipment.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Whilst not in a position to provide specific guidance to members on the matters concerning the Coroner, the BDA will notify its members of this incident and share any safety alerts it receives via our Newsletter and on our website, to highlight the findings of the investigations and make them aware of the published information. Furthermore, the BDA will remind its members of the need to follow documented Safe Systems of Work (RAMS) in accordance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and CDM Regulations 2015, and obligation to adhere to manufacturer instructions when utilising any work equipment in accordance with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.”

    Source location

    Response from British Drilling Association
    Page 1 · response
    Published 19 January 2024

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    The association lacks relevant expertise and experience to provide specific guidance on the equipment, incident, or coroner’s concerns.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “For clarity, the BDA currently does not have any members who undertake horizontal directional drilling which uses the equipment and pipework which appears to the subject of particular concern. The Association therefore lacks the expertise and experience needed to comment or provide specific guidance to members on either the events around Mr Harper's tragic death or the Coroner’s concerns as set out in Section 5 of his report.”

    Source location

    Response from British Drilling Association
    Page 1 · response
    Published 19 January 2024

    Open published response
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Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026