The Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 (c. 61) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which provided for the safety, health and welfare of people on installations undertaking the exploitation of, and exploration for, mineral resources in UK offshore waters.

The exploration for natural gas under the United Kingdom’s sector of the North Sea began in 1964.

Its long title is: ‘An Act to provide for the safety, health and welfare of persons on installations concerned with the underwater exploitation and exploration of mineral resources in the waters in or surrounding the United Kingdom, and generally for the safety of such installations and the prevention of accidents on or near them.’ The 1971 act was enabling legislation giving the Secretary of State the power to make appropriate Regulations.

Managers of offshore installations, further provisions – originally ‘Masters’’ – ‘shall not be absent’, responsibilities, disobedience and fines, not to be used in an unsafe manner, emergencies, securing safety 6.

Short title, commencement and saving – to be made by Statutory Instrument (see below), Parliament of Northern Ireland Schedule.

Subject matter of regulations – measures, provisions, no-one under the age of 18 to  be offshore, accidents, medical treatment, accommodation, inspectors and inquiries, official logbook.

Offshore duty holders (oil and gas companies) appointed a Certifying Authority to inspect the design, construction and operation of their installation(s) against published guidance.

[8] The Petroleum Engineering Division of the Department of Energy audited the Certifying Authorities, for compliance with their duties under the legislation and the against the guidance.

As of August 2020, sections 1 to 6, 8, 10, and the schedule of the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 have been repealed by subsequent legislation.