Death at closed oil platform is cause for safety review

A Minerals Management Services (MMS) report into the death of a worker on a closed oil platform may have a far-reaching impact on the way oil companies close down their oil rigs. The report outlined the death of a contract worker who was on his way to Chevron platform Grand Isle (GI) 37 W platform off the coast of Louisiana to investigate the cause of a failed pipeline. However the worker directed the captain of the transport ship to go to GI 37 Z, which was damaged during Hurricane Katrina. The MMS report stated that the reason for this diversion was unknown.

The ship captain moored next to GI 37 Z to allow the worker to board the platform. He moved up to the cellar deck, which had numerous holes in the grated floor from the storm. He was there for only about ten minutes before, as the captain reported, before he fell approximately 20 feet to another deck below and then into the Gulf of Mexico. The captain, who was alone and unable to immediately save the man, went to another nearby structure for help. The worker was pulled from the water but despite attempts to save his life, he died early that afternoon.

The MMS investigation found many safety violations in connection with the accident. Listed first was the fact that there was no list of damaged/closed platforms as of February 28, 2006, the day of the accident. Further, U.S. Coast Guard requirements state that the worker should have been wearing a safety harness since “there was a hazard of falling 10 or more feet.” The investigation also found that there had been no attempt to add railings around the holes to prevent falling, to post notices stating that the platform was closed and could not be boarded without prior permission from the company, or to physically close the platform by barricading stairwells and other access points to the platform.

However the investigation did find that the worker’s own actions were a contributing cause. The report states that “he made a conscious decision to board the platform” though it also notes that there is no way to know if the worker knew the condition of the platform before boarding.

Offshore oil rigs and platforms are generally dangerous places to work. To offset the risks and hazards, employers are required to implement – and enforce – strict safety measures to ensure the safety of their employees. In this case, the company failed to give sufficient warning about the hazardous state of the platform or to prevent anyone from boarding. In many cases, “accidents” are not accidents at all, but acts of negligence on the part of the employer or some other party.

If you have been injured while working on an offshore oil rig or oil platform, contact a Jim S. Adler & Associates personal injury lawyer. We have more than 30 years of legal experience in Texas fighting for the rights of our clients and getting the compensation they deserve. With one phone call, you can receive a free case review to find out whether you are eligible to claim compensation for your injuries. Or fill out the free case review form on this page and submit the details of your oil platform accident, and one of the Jim S. Adler & Associates legal team will contact you with answers.

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