Oz oil, gas plants face greater threat from 'deranged people like Breivik than terrorists'

Sydney, June 25 (ANI): Australia's offshore oil and gas plants face a greater threat from deranged individuals like Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik than terrorists, a report has claimed.

The report prepared by the retiring Inspector of Transport Security Mick Palmer, warned that the growing use of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers and high rates of mental illness and drug and alcohol problems among employees 'can only increase the potential for unstable and unpredictable employee conduct'.

The report into the security of Australia's offshore oil and gas sector said terrorists could target offshore infrastructure.

Based on government and industry advice and assessment, the report, however, claimed that 'much more likely' threat was from a disgruntled insider or lone intruder, The Herald Sun reports.

The report pointed out that Breivik's tragic criminal attacks in Norway in July last year were 'a dramatic example of the potential of an organised, disaffected or unbalanced lone perpetrator'.

It said there was a growing use of FIFO workers who worked far from their homes and spent long periods away from their families, a situation that could cause discontent and frustration.

"A worker has been involved in a domestic altercation immediately prior to returning to the workplace; a worker who has a drug or alcohol problem; a worker who is chastised or threatened with dismissal by a supervisor, or a worker who loses significant money in a card game can each quickly change from a trusted and reliable employee to a disgruntled or disaffected employee and a potential security risk," the report said. (ANI)