When maritime industry standards are ignored, workers, like our client, are the ones who suffer for it. This case illustrates the necessity for platform and boat companies to adhere to industry standards in order to ensure the safety of their maritime workers.
Offshore Rope Transfer Accident Summary
In April of 2016, a Louisiana API inspector was making a routine inspection on a satellite platform when the seas started to pick up. He called for a boat to pick him up and waited on the boat landing with waves lapping at his ankles and knees. When he went to swing from the platform to the boat, the waves knocked him off balance and he slipped and fell into the water.
The boat on location did not have a deckhand or the proper equipment to be able to rescue him and, as a result, had to radio a nearby M/V to retrieve our client out of the water. So for the next twenty minutes, he struggled to keep his head above the water and keep from drowning as he was pummeled by five-foot waves. Eventually, the M/V arrived to rescue him, and after three failed attempts, he was pulled from the water drenched and exhausted, unable to even climb the ladder.
Despite feeling pain in his shoulder and back, the company doctor found nothing wrong with him and released him to go back to work the very next morning. Our client knew something was wrong with his body and was seen by another doctor who confirmed that he had several tears, leaking spinal discs and needed shoulder surgery. He also was suffering from a neck and back injury.
Platform Operator was at Fault for Multiple Equipment Problems
According to one of the expert reports in our case, there were several major equipment problems that contributed to our client’s accident and injuries:
- The platform personnel landing was not located at least 5 feet above the water line.
- The provided swing rope was too short to ensure a far enough swing radius for a safe swing rope transfer.
- There was no access ladder for the client to use to climb out of the water and, in fact, the ladder had been missing for over a year without any attempt to replace it.
Because of these unaddressed issues, our client suffered an injury that could have been avoided altogether. Fortunately, we were able to take care of our client’s medical bills and settle the case for an undisclosed amount.
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