The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued an urgent safety notice (8 August 2025) after identifying incidents where motion-compensated gangways have retracted without adequate warning. Sudden retraction caused by power failures or control errors creates a real risk of falls from height and serious injury for personnel transferring to and from offshore platforms and vessels.
What HSE found
Investigations show gangways can retract automatically without giving workers meaningful advance warning. In some cases controls and alarms either fail to provide an early warning or trigger at the same moment as the retraction — leaving people no time to move to a safe position. HSE says this problem has persisted despite earlier industry guidance and a 2024 safety notice on the same issue.
Dutyholders’ responsibilities
HSE is clear: operators in oil & gas and renewables must review all motion-compensated gangway systems now. Any gangway that cannot guarantee sufficient advance warning before an automatic retraction should be taken out of service until the design, controls and warning arrangements are made safe.
Key responsibilities include:
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carry out a suitable and sufficient technical risk assessment covering all automatic gangway functions and operational states;
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ensure control systems only allow auto-retraction when personnel are confirmed safe;
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review testing records for automatic functions and alarm reliability;
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rigorously risk-assess any manual override procedures that permit operators to cancel or delay retraction.
Practical steps for operators
HSE advises operators to check gangway design and testing evidence, verify that audible/visual warnings give genuine advance notice (not simultaneous alerts), and suspend use of gangways until safety controls are proven. Where alarms or sensors are absent or unreliable, install protective devices that prevent retraction if a person may be at risk.
Legal and guidance context
The notice reminds dutyholders of duties under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and the Work at Height Regulations, and points to HSE guidance on equipment safety and risk assessment.
Read the full HSE safety notice and guidance:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/motion-compensated-gangways-auto-retraction.htm
