Commercial Divers Risk Injury and Death from Underwater Burning

The nature of many commercial diving jobs is risky. Any time a diver is under water for an extended period of time while working with pipelines, vessels, rigs, platforms, or other structures they risk injury. Every year commercial divers are killed, and sadly many of these accidents are not only avoidable, but are the result of somebody else’s negligence.

Electrocution and explosions from underwater burning

Underwater burning – the cutting of metal – is one commercial diving job that can lead to serious problems. One obvious concern when burning underwater is the risk of serious or deadly electrical shock. Another way that divers can be seriously hurt is while using underwater cutting torches to cut or burn metal. These tools are often used to cut into wrecks, remove the legs or parts from an underwater platform, or to burn sheet pile in ship channels.

Underwater cutting torches can release hydrogen, and if allowed to build up in a closed structure with unburned oxygen the mixture can explode if ignited by an arc from the torch. Vent holes should always be cut if underwater torches are to be used inside a closed structure.

It isn’t always the explosion or electrocution itself that kills or seriously injures the diver. If the diver is knocked unconscious or if their gear is damaged in an explosion, they may drown or suffer major injury before they can be rescued.

Employers must keep commercial divers safe

Commercial diving will always have risks, but these risks should be minimized by proper training, correctly maintained equipment, and the use of experienced tenders. Companies that don’t protect their divers from serious burns, electric shock, or other diving-related injury need to be held accountable.

Please check our Diving Accident Law Library to read more articles about commercial diver safety, including “Diving Companies Can Be Responsible for Improper Decompression Tables” and “Commercial Divers at Risk of Gas Embolism”.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a commercial diving accident, then take a step towards justice by contacting the experienced diving injury attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. Don’t ruin your case before it begins by hiring a law firm without Jones Act or Maritime Injury Law experience: put yourself in the skilled hands of Mr. Vujasinovic and Mr. Beckcom.