Offshore Oil Rigs – Page 10 – Offshore Injury Lawyer – Maritime Attorneys – Houston Maritime LawyersOffshore Injury Attorneys

Dec 20, 2013

Four Filipino Offshore Workers Dead in One Year

Things are getting ugly in the Gulf as the beginning of November marks the fourth death of a Filipino offshore worker within one year. Three were killed in an explosion on an oil platform in the latter half of last November, and now a worker trying to decommission a platform has also been killed in an accident.

Understandably, the Philippine Embassy has been concerned. The incidents suggest both the use of immigrant workers to take on riskier jobs- and it is obvious how dangerous these jobs can be- and bring up concerns about safety procedures. While many deep water wells have been revamped over the last three years after a serious incident in 2010, there has been much less stress on the safety protocols of shallow water wells.

However, it is clear that more emphasis does need to be made on these shallow water platforms and their safety procedures and training. The Philippine Embassy has urged the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, founded after the 2010 incident, to investigate this death and perform a close assessment on any related safety practices to protect both Filipino and American offshore workers from further injuries or fatalities.

Houston maritime workers, who have their own work in the Gulf, should be particularly concerned about these potential safety issues. If you do not already have a maritime lawyer in Houston lined up in case the worst should occur, you need to do so immediately. Call Kirkendall Dwyer LLP in order to get compensation for injuries you or a loved one has suffered or simply to get more information about your options in case a serious accident should happen to you. Be prepared and take on the very best in order to protect yourself properly.

Dec 19, 2013

Types of Maritme Accidents

There are many types of maritime accidents. Of these, the most dangerous, and the type with the most potential for injuries or death, is a collision at sea. There are a number of different ways a collision can take place. All of them present hazardous conditions for those aboard the vessels. Serious accidents, with injuries, can occur quickly. A victim of such an accident will want to discuss it with an experienced maritime injury lawyer.

Bow-On: This type of collision occurs when two ships collide front to front. It can be compared to a head-on collision in a vehicle. In many cases, the bow-on accident may be caused by an inability to brake or slow the vessel. Maritime rules call for vessels that are approaching each other in this manner to pass to the starboard, so both ships avoid a collision course. Failure to take action is almost always attributed to human error.

Stern Collisions: This type of accident happens when one vessel hits another near the rear. This can cause extensive damage. Stern collisions are most likely to happen when passing another vessel. Maritime rules provide that a vessel that is being passed should stay out of the way of the other vessel. It is possible to run into the other vessel, which is commonly caused by crew members who are not paying attention.

Side Collisions: A side collision is similar to a T-bone accident in a vehicle. One vessel crashes into the side of another vessel. Sometimes an accident of this type could be caused by adverse weather conditions such as strong winds or waves that make it difficult to gain control of the vessel.

Allison Accidents: These are accidents that occur when a moving vessel runs into a stationary object. A common Allison accident may happen when a vessel hits a bridge or seawall. In cases such as this, the moving vessel is presumed to be at fault. These accidents, while often close to shore, can be dangerous to both crew members and passengers. Talk to a maritime injury lawyer to learn what steps to take if you have been injured.

Maritime accidents can be hazardous and can result in injuries or death. If you or a loved one has been injured in this type of accident, contact a maritime injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Dec 19, 2013

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.

Dec 16, 2013

Offshore Firms Have Gaping Holes in Safety Measures

An incident earlier this year indicates that offshore drilling companies need to make many adjustments to their current policies in terms of safety, or at least one of them does. An offshore worker preparing a well to be abandoned was killed in a tragic accident. What makes the incident all the more tragic is that investigation shows it could easily have been prevented with the proper safety measures.

The rig had much of its equipment in positions that forced workers to stand in more dangerous positions and generally closer to the machinery, with higher risk of getting caught, as the deceased worker did. This equipment violated regulations. Training meetings did not properly address these dangers or other dangers as they were required to.

The shift supervisor also bears some responsibility for how the tragedy turned out. If help had arrived sooner, it is possible that the young worker could have been saved, but the supervisor was not properly prepared for such an incident and took too long to initiate emergency procedures. This was a definite contributing factor to the worker’s wounds being fatal.

It is apparent that even though improvements have been made over the last few years, many drilling platforms are still not made as safe as they can be. While there is risk in any offshore work, it should be reduced as much as possible.

A Jones Act attorney in Houston can help you if you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an offshore work accident. The Jones Act protects offshore workers against unsafe conditions and promises compensation if such an event does occur. Kirkendall Dwyer LLP is standing by to take your case and get you the recognition and recompense you deserve for your company’s carelessness.

Dec 15, 2013

Search Suspended for Missing Oilfield Worker

The United States Coast Guard has suspended its search for a worker missing from an offshore oilfield supply boat. The USCG has been searching for the man for 3 days in an area covering 2,734 square nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico. During the 3-day search there were 12 separate search missions. They deployed many helicopters, cutters, and aircraft to aid in the search efforts, but they turned up empty.

The missing man, whose name has not been released, reportedly fell overboard off the Dustin Danos, a ship operated by Gulf Offshore Logistics. The man was reported overboard on Saturday, November 9, about 60 miles southwest of Port Fourchon. The company has not responded to requests for comments on the incident.

In a separate incident just two weeks ago, another oilfield worker was lost in the water. The man worked for Offshore Specialty Fabricators and fell from a platform about 75 miles southeast of Lake Charles. The man’s body was recovered the next day by divers. The man was part of a company that was contracted to dismantle that particular platform because it was no longer in use.

According to reports, the man in that accident was knocked off the platform by an empty storage tank that also fell into the water. The man’s body was found pinned under the tank, about 100 feet under the water. The USCG reported that there was no oil spill due to the accident because the tank was no longer in use and was plugged.

Accidents such as these require consultation with an experienced Houston maritime lawyer. The attorney will review the details of the accident and work with the family to take appropriate legal action. A Houston maritime lawyer will explain the Jones Act and review the maritime laws that apply in the situation. Contact a Houston maritime lawyer to determine your options.

Dec 14, 2013

Ship Strikes Gulf Oil Platform

While no one was killed, an incident earlier this year still highlights the potential risks for any Texas maritime workers in the Gulf of Mexico. In the incident, the ship the Celeste Ann hit an oil platform and sank. The boat was a supply ship, bringing supplies and workers to the platform.

Some oil was spilled, but it was largely contained and was not a considerable amount compared to other spills the gulf has suffered. What could have been in much more danger was the workers involved. All twenty were rescued, but that is only due to a lot of luck. The incident could easily have been much worse, especially since the vessel ended up sinking completely.

Such dangerous incidents can feel like standard risks to many maritime workers, who have to deal with the reality that every day holds dangers for them as they travel through the water. There are many risks in maritime settings that land workers can’t even compare to.

Investigations are ongoing as to the cause of the collision. If the company is found to be responsible due to poor training or endangerment of its employees by unsafe practices, it will have to pay considerable damages.

As a maritime worker, you need to have such risks covered should the worst occur. A Houston maritime attorney can help you get the security you need. Specifically, a call to Kirkendall Dwyer LLP will help you get started in making sure you will always get the proper safety or else get the proper compensation for any altered safety methods. If you have even been injured as a result of an offshore or maritime work accident, you should contact Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today and start on the road to proper compensation for all injuries and stress.