The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has responded to criticism that offshore spill management teams in the Gulf of Mexico are receiving inadequate safety training.

Speaking to ProPublica after complaints about the adequacy of current training arrangements, the director of the OSHA David Michaels said the organisation is working with BP to increase the number of hours of training each offshore worker receives.

"We're aiming for the workers on the Vessels of Opportunity, whose exposure to weathered oil has increased," he told the news provider.

The Vessels of Opportunity programme utilises local boat operators and crews to tackle the spill. Now that they are collecting weathered oil - crude which has lost most of its volatile chemicals - in addition to laying fresh boom, there has been a particular focus on providing these workers with additional training.

BP has prioritised a local response to the spill, calling primarily on teams in Louisiana, Texas and Florida.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development