Oil Spills, Workplace Safety and Firm Size:

oil and gas companies investing more heavily in exploration and production (E&P) in foreign countries, leaving more domestic E&P to smaller 'independents ' assumed to be less careful and capable than majors. Both industry and regulatory specialists believe this trend will increase the risk of accidents and oil spills. However, our analysis found no evidence that more independents would threaten workers* safety or the marine environment. In fact, on average independents had a slightly better record than the majors. We also found that the Minerals Management Service's platform inspection program had a beneficial