Offshore defendants face multiple accusations in safety harness malfunction

A seaman is suing for cervical and lumbar spine injuries he claims resulted from a malfunctioning safety harness.

Travis Tyler Stringer of Mississippi filed the case Sept. 7 in New Orleans federal court against Parker Drilling Company and Baker Hughes Inc.

Court documents state that on July 10, 2011, while Stringer was employed by Baker Hughes aboard Parker Drilling’s Inland Drilling Barge, Rig 15, he was upended while being lowered in a safety harness which malfunctioned.

The claims against defendant Parker Drilling are:

-Negligence for failure to provide equipment in reasonably safe condition
-Providing faulty or defective equipment
-Operating an air hoist to lower the safety harness in an unsafe manner
-Failure to adequately inspect the safety harness before use
-Failure to immediately halt the operation when the safety harness first malfunctioned
-Failure to appropriately and safely lower the plaintiff in the safety harness
-Failure to use a signal man during the operation

The claims against defendant Baker Hughes are:

-Negligence for failure to provide a safe working place
-Failure to adequately supervise the task at hand
-Failure to assign a signal man when plaintiff was lowered
-Forcing plaintiff and his crew to work undermanned and excessive hours.

Plaintiff seeks over $1.5 million in damages for physical and mental pain and suffering, loss of wages and earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life and medical expenses.

Source: Louisiana Record