MORE than 15 years after the Super Puma helicopter disaster which claimed 16 lives, North Sea workers’ safety concerns are growing once more.

Maintenance failures were blamed for the 2009 crash, but after a series of further incidents, Super Pumas were withdrawn from service in the North Sea altogether in 2016.

As the industry considers its reintroduction, a survey of 1,200 offshore oil and gas workers by Unite the union has found three-quarters would refuse to get on board a Super Puma, while 18 per cent said they would need to be convinced.

After a fatal accident earlier in February involving a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, and ongoing shortages of spare parts for the aircraft; shortages some 43 per cent of workers worried that could also affect that craft’s safety.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite will never, ever allow offshore health and safety to be compromised by operators and contractors.

“Overwhelmingly, offshore workers are telling Unite that more action and assurances are needed from the industry in order to improve the safety of helicopter flights.

“Operators and contractors must listen to these concerns and act.”

Offshore Energies UK was contacted for comment.