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Two Dead in Gas Platform Accident

An accident on a gas platform in the North Sea earlier this year left two dead and one injured. It seems to have been caused by an equipment malfunction, so the platform was not evacuated as it would have been in the case of a leak.

Due to other North Sea accidents and vocal concerns that equipment on North Sea platforms should be replaced or at least closely inspected due to age, it is clearly a dangerous time to be an offshore worker on these platforms. However, even if such inspections were carried out, there would still be risk.

Regardless of the inevitability of risk, companies carry the responsibility to protect their workers as much as possible. Whether the company should have anticipated the failure of the faulty part is difficult to say, but because it did not, two workers have lost their lives.

Offshore workers do have legal recourse to companies cutting corners or otherwise not doing the best job of protecting them. There are many ways that a maritime worker can get compensation for injuries or that their families can be compensated for an accident that ends in death.

The best option is to have maritime injury attorneys at the ready. After you have already been injured is no time to be looking for a lawyer to help get the money you need to pay your hospital bills. Call Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today to either find out more about your options should you be injured in the workplace or just want to form a working relationship with the company in case the worst should occur.  Their lawyers have experience in maritime injury cases.

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Human Error to Blame for Maritime Collision, Investigators Conclude

Marine Insights reports that investigations of a collision that took place in September of this year have recently concluded that it was human error, not other factors, that caused the crash. The crew of The Washington State Ferries’ Hyak is being held responsible for colliding with a motor yacht.

The investigations determined that weather, currents, and other natural factors did not influence the collision in this case, and that the Hyak had time to avoid the collision if the crew had been more aware and taken appropriate action.

The WSF is taking action to improve its training and its employees awareness based on the report, including reviewing qualifications for navigational officers for the ferries. However, even though steps are being taken, it’s still very discouraging that government employees were responsible for the endangerment of a private citizen.

 

People tend to worry about car accidents more frequently, but maritime accidents do occur regularly. Investigations can take time, and in the meanwhile, you need to make sure you are adequately protected. If something does occur to you or someone you love while on the water, you need to be certain that fair settlements can be reached.

Maritime attorneys can ensure that if you have an accident with your boat, you are properly taken care of. While this investigation came out with a clear conclusion and one that favored the person being hit, not every case is so simple. Even in this case, investigators took two months to determine the cause, but that can seem too long when you have to pay for hospital bills or repair damage to your boat. Having good maritime attorneys can really help speed your case along. If you need a good maritime attorney, call Kirkendall Dwyer LLP.

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Oil Companies Need to Be Aware of Shallow Water Dangers

James Watson is leaving his position as head of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement this year, but he has some advice for ways companies can continue forward before he does. After the 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident, there has been a lot of attention in the oil and gas industries on improving safety conditions for deep-water rigs. However, Watson is concerned that there may have been too much emphasis on this at the cost of examining the risk of shallow water operations.

With a fatal accident last November and an incident just this past July that required the evacuation of more than forty workers, both on shallow water platforms, he may well be onto something. Both of the incidents happened at wells that had been operating for some time.

As he leaves his position as director, Watson urges fuel companies to examine their safety measures on shallow water platforms in close detail. Just because the water is shallower does not necessarily mean a significant difference in risk level, at least if the shallow water platforms are not maintained properly.

The Bureau itself was created after the Deepwater Horizon accident, so it is only natural that it has been focused on changing deep-water platforms, but now the time has come for it to be more thorough in ensuring the safety of all platforms.

If you or someone you love has suffered the consequences of the conditions of maritime work in the Gulf, you should be recompensed for your stress and injury. A Houston Jones Act attorney can help you understand what your options are and how to hold your employer responsible for any unsafe conditions. These cases both get you the compensation you deserve and also improve conditions for other workers.

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Safety Concerns of Offshore Drillers

In the wake of recent rulings regarding the Black Elk Energy accident, oil companies are likely concerned about their own operations. The Black Elk Energy company was cited this week with 41 violations as a result of the explosion that killed 3 workers last year. The violations cite many problems, some of which may be partially responsible for the accident.

While this may seem like a harsh ruling, it is possible that the company will be able to resolve many of them – the company has 2 months to respond to the violations. In the meantime, other companies may be concerned about their own possible safety violations. Violations can carry large fines, although for most companies, these fines may be worth risking rather than having to conform to some expensive changes.

It is important to note that even if a company is charged with a violation, they have a certain length of time to correct the problem. Often, companies are allowed months to fix problems. Until then, workers are exposed the dangerous conditions, likely unaware of the situation they are putting themselves into. Workers who are injured are covered by maritime laws including the Jones Act. This allows workers to seek legal action in the case of an injury.

If you have been injured, it is important to speak to an experienced Galveston oil rig injury attorney as soon as possible. The attorney will review the circumstances of the accident to determine the best way to proceed. The Galveston oil rig injury attorney understands these types of accidents and knows how to establish negligence. An oil rig job is dangerous, but the company must take precautions to ensure safety. Talk to a Galveston oil rig injury attorney to learn more about seeking legal action after having sustained an injury while working offshore.

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Dangers of Offshore Workers

Offshore work can be dangerous and demanding. Those who physically fit are often the safest. Workers need to have an incredible mix of both physical and emotional strength and fortitude. Work is not only difficult, but also dangerous work conditions can add to the difficulty of performing the job. All too often, workers are at the mercy of their company to ensure that they are safe.

Companies must follow specific safety procedures. If they don’t they can be heavily fined. Of course, offshore operations are quite complex. Not only are there many different jobs that need to be performed, but there are also many different pieces of machinery that must be operated and maintained. Rough weather conditions can make the job more difficult.

With so much going on, it’s no wonder that offshore jobs are considered dangerous. It is important for offshore workers to know that they have rights and are protected if they are injured while working. If you have been injured it is important to talk to a Baytown personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The lawyer will review the facts of the accident and advise you as to the best way to proceed.

Companies are under legal obligation to keep working conditions safe for their employees. Even so, many of these offshore locations are operating under difficult circumstances and may not meet the standards that they should. When a worker is injured due to the negligence of the company, the worker is entitled to compensation.

Talk to a Baytown personal injury attorney to seek help in dealing with an injury. The injury may not only be painful, but it may also cause you to have expensive medical bills. Additionally, you may need to take time off work while you are recovering. A Baytown personal injury attorney will discuss your options with you and help you get the compensation you deserve.

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Recovering Compensation When Injured on an Oil Rig

Men and women that work as gas or oil workers and have been injured on a floating rig and jack-up rig are typically covered by maritime injury law, specifically the Jones Act. This also includes being injured when being transported by helicopter or boat to the rig. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that 823 gas and oil extraction workers between 2003 in 2010 were killed on the job.[i]

Maritime lawyers handle a variety of cases for individuals seeking to recover compensation for disability, suffering, pain, and lost wages. This is often a result of negligence by the employer that was either a direct cause of any injury or something that contributed to it.

Offshore structures and drilling rigs create an exceedingly hostile work environment. The conditions that the gas and oil workers are expected to deal with place them in serious danger. In addition, the escalated levels of production activity along with individuals working together in a closed environment maximize both profits for the company and an increased likelihood of becoming seriously injured for the help.

The most common types of dangers on a drilling rig include:

  • Accidents involving slips and falls
  • Blocker cable breaks
  • Falling objects
  • Faulty grating
  • Negligence when operating equipment
  • Cathead slips

Based on the specifics of each offshore oil rig accident, the injured party is likely able to collect compensation through a competent maritime injury attorney in a court case involving personal injury law. In addition, those that have been injured when performing work on a fixed platform will likely be covered by other federal law including the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

Maritime injury law is complex, challenging to understand, and extremely complicated. Any individual that is suffered when working on a fixed rig or floating rig should seek out a competent attorney to handle their case.

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