The stakes are high when the worst occurs aboard an offshore drilling platform or support vessel, as maritime disasters have the potential to injure – or even kill – scores of workers.
Fortunately, offshore accidents and explosions are often preventable, provided drillers take steps – and spend the money needed — to maintain equipment, train workers, and ensure safe conditions at their sites.
Ensure All Personnel are Adequately Trained
It’s important that all offshore personnel — be they employees or contractors — receive a proper orientation when they arrive at a drilling site and undergo the appropriate training on all relevant machinery and equipment before they begin work.
All maritime workers must also receive instruction on proper safety and evacuation procedures in the event of an accident or explosion. Training should be consistent and it should be on-going rather than a one-time event.
Consistently Enforce Safety Rules
Drillers should adhere to all offshore safety standards and regulations, including rules that forbid the use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace. This is not the time for flexibility.
Cycle Workers Regularly
Maritime workers spend a great deal of time away from their families. They also have to cope with tight quarters and little privacy while on the job. Not surprisingly, offshore personnel are prone to the type of burnout that can lead to serious – and even deadly – mistakes. Cycling workers ashore as frequently as possible will help ensure a safe workplace.
Supply All Workers with Necessary Protective Gear. And Ensure they Use It.
Regulations require that all offshore personnel be supplied with appropriate safety gear, including safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, steel-toed boots, respirators, and fire-resistant clothing. Supervisors aboard offshore rigs and platforms are responsible for ensuring that all workers utilize the necessary protective clothing and equipment when needed.
Be Consistent with Housekeeping
Offshore drillers should have procedures in place to ensure that all areas are clear of hazards that could injure workers or cause them to trip or fall. Any drilling fluids that collect on the rig floor during pipe handling operations should be removed in a timely manner. Signage directing workers to emergency and safety equipment should always remain clearly visible.
Ensure Equipment is Well-Maintained
All equipment should be continuously maintained to ensure it is in good working order. This can be achieved by implementing a mechanical integrity program that encompasses regular equipment inspections, testing and quality assurance.
Our Undefeated Offshore Accident Lawyers Have Successfully Represented Hundreds of Workers Injured in Connection with Offshore Explosions and Accidents. Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click here for a Free Consult.
Our Undefeated Maritime Lawyers have won over $1 billion for our clients, including hundreds of workers injured or tragically killed in the worst recent offshore accidents and explosions in recent memory.
In every single case, these disasters were entirely preventable and resulted from a culture that placed profits over worker safety.
If you or a loved one were hurt while working on an offshore drilling rig, platform, or support vessel, call 1-888-603-3636 or click here to send us an email through our “Contact Us” form.
All consultations are free, and because we only work for a contingency fee, you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.