The developments in safety in the oil industry over the last 25 years are discussed. The article focuses on key problems and incidents, strategies and measures as well as on failures and successes, which have helped to achieve major improvements in overall safety in the oil industry and other industries. The authors aim to give an overview of what has already been achieved and what still needs to be done in the future. Safety in industry has been a real success story since the late 1980's. It has been, and still is, a story with difficult lessons to be learnt and with people who suffered injuries or got killed. In addition, it has been a story with both great achievements and severe setbacks. It is also a story accompanied by major changes in legislation and regulation. Looking back from the current situation, it should be realized that significant changes have been achieved in terms of safety Nowadays, people are working in an industry where driving to the workplace is riskier than the job itself, where hazards are actively managed, and where one can be proud of what has been achieved. The story of how these improvements in safety has been achieved is presented here as a review of the last 25 years and is based on the authors' personal experience in the oil industry.