Haven't the US authorities queried the priority given to safety to the operations of the company prior to this incident?

Chris, I’m sure that there will be issues relating health and safety however, I’m sure that other issues in terms of management will come to fruition. I terms of the size of the incident, although this is a major incident it is quite small in comparison to some of the other oil polluters. As an example Royal Dutch Shell who have been heavily polluting (knowingly) Nigeria for several decades – through poor management and bad practices. This has completely destroyed habitats, polluted land and contaminated drinking water for thousands of families. The effects will go on for generations. The reason you don’t hear of it is because it’s not America, therefore it’s not real news? If you do some basic research, you will find many other well-known companies who have very poor management systems operating in third world countries to the expense of the local population. This of course would not be allowed in most western countries.

I just think that as it is a health and safety issue it should be publicised as such. On radio 2 this morning Chris Evans was asking about health and safety re sports like boxing and he said that was a job so where is the health and safety? Not to make too much of that I'm sure it would make the listeners think !!!!!!!!! That is a trivial mention whearas the BP oil "disaster" should be more publicly "health and safety.

Hence the reason that amateur boxers wear headguards.

To follow up Chrisdaltons point, I believe that boxing was the first sport where you had to clear a medical before being allowed compete.

I doubt it is fair to state "why is there not a massive focus on this incident as a result of a health and safety failure?" There has been an immense focus in USA, at times OTT when the details of the investigation are not fully known. The HSE in GB has been clarifying matters on how some aspects of offshore safety case are enforced and managed differently and perhaps more effectively. As far as media coverage is concerned, the saturation coverage by global media has waned after the spill was arrested temporarily by the new LMRP cap and hopefully in the near future a permanent capping of the leak by a combination of the static kill and the relief well. I will not speculate until we get details in the form of investigation reports. BP now appears to be confident that it will be able to defend successfully the charges of wilfull/gross negligence, as they were able to demonstrate to a large extent the wellhead integrity after capping the leak and carrying out a vast array of tests/ monitoring. Obviously, BP has not denied at all theat they might have got some things wrong, but let us wait for the details. Overall, it appears that BP has been "open" to the extent it can without incriminating itself.

Let's not forget...the Bhopal disaster at the Union Carbide plant 25 years ago, where the immediate death toll was 2,259 and many more thousands died and suffered in the aftermath. Now if you count the cost in monetary terms the BP oil spill may be the worst ever - but for me it is the human tragedy that really counts. Ray

Lets not forget the other US oil companies who have got massive oil pits of waste crude oil scattered in some third world countries which is causing illness to the local people, as seen on TV by Ross Kemp, what has the media said about this or the us congress