SHELL UK have said safety will not be compromised at its Mossmorran site after a decision to shed 15 contractor jobs in Scotland.

The energy giant confirmed to the Press that there will be a reduction in its core maintenance team across the Fife NGL Plant and its St Fergus operation near Peterhead but have played down union claims of "brutal" cuts and 80 per cent of posts to go.

A Shell spokesperson said they "didn’t recognise" Unite the Union’s figures and said the measures were a planned 12 per cent reduction in their core maintenance team.

“Other reductions are due to seasonal projects that have already been completed,” he said.

“The safety of our plants, our teams and our communities is paramount and will not be compromised.

“Maintenance will be done at the right time by the right specialists. They will now be contracted for specific projects, rather than being based at the plants full time.

“At this time of economic uncertainty, we know that this news will be very difficult for contractor colleagues whose jobs may be impacted as a result.”

Unite the Union said the proposals affecting Shell’s Northern Systems and Plants (NSP) operations would result in 63 out of 77 jobs being axed at the Mossmorran plant with trades impacted including scaffold inspectors and supervisors, riggers and rigging supervisors, forklift drivers, general assistants and mechanical supervisors.

As well as raising major health and safety concerns over the current and future conditions, they said the decrease in staffing proposed by Shell and their main contractor Kaefer could severely impact fire and safety responses to any major incidents at the plant.

Industrial officer Bob McGregor said: “Unite is deeply concerned that the level of cuts being proposed by Shell at the Mossmorran plant in Fife will result in potentially critical health and safety concerns.

“There are a number of ongoing issues at the plant which we have worked hard to resolve with the companies involved onsite.

"However, these proposals are of such a brutal nature that we are being informed by local union representatives this could impair the condition and maintenance of the installations.

“We call on Shell to step back and re-engage with Unite to find alternative solutions because lives are at risk here.”

Mossmorran protest - p22