Interested in working with us? Call us Toll Free at 888.472.1440 or fill out this quick form and we will contact you within 24 hours!
Find Answers To Your Questions By Searching Here:
Federal Agency Charged With Offshore Safety Has “Deeply-Flawed Inspection Program”
The Deepwater Horizon explosion opened many people’s eyes to the dangers that offshore rig workers face on a regular basis. As the public watched images of smoke billowing from the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon rig, some began to question the government’s role in keeping offshore workers safe.
According to the Wall Street Journal article, “Inspectors Adrift in Rig-Safety Push,” despite efforts to improve the federal agency that oversees offshore drilling, there is one major change that has yet to be made – “fixing its deeply flawed inspection program.”
Human Error is More Common Than Mechanical Failure Safety experts say that the majority of offshore rig injuries are the result of human error not mechanical failure. Apparently, though, inspectors mainly focus on checking hardware on these rigs and platform. Consequently, they could be missing crucial issues that may lead to offshore rig accidents. According to the article, they are not looking for potential human errors, such as:
Poor decisions
Cutting corners
Unclear responsibilities
While the cause of the Deepwater Horizon accident is still debated, investigators believe that it could have been the result of human error. No one knows for sure if a better inspection program could have prevented such a disaster, but the protocol that has been in place has left many people to wonder this possibility. What safety experts have been able to agree on is that the inspection program needs significant changes.
“They need to concentrate more on safety management systems and safety culture as opposed to just on equipment,” says Ken Arnold, an engineer who served on an advisory panel that recommended changes to the inspection program back in 1990. “That is a very hard thing to do.”
Offshore Rig Worker Rights If you or a loved one has been injured in an offshore oil rig accident, you need to learn your rights under the law. Offshore workers are typically considered seamen and have protection under the Jones Act. Find out more by contacting an experienced maritime attorney at our office. You can reach us by calling 877.724.7800.
If you have been injured in a maritime accident, we recommend that you do your research. All too often, the company will try to trick you into signing away your legal rights, ask you to give a recorded statement that will hurt your case, force you to see company doctors, or steer you in the wrong direction. Below is a list of resources we provide to injured maritime employees for FREE. Free Book Written By Board Certified Injury Attorney Brian Beckcom
