BSEE Report Issued for Injury on Pacific Khamsin Drillship

by | Feb 14, 2021 | Offshore accidents, Personal Injury

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has released its Investigative Report following injuries that were sustained by a worker on the Pacific Khamsin Drillship on September 18, 2020.  At the time, the drillship was performing work for Total E&P USA, Inc.  The injured worker was a floorhand employed by Prime Ocean.  The drillship was located at Garden Banks Block 1003 when the incident occurred.  During the incident, the worker sustained injuries to his ankle before being evacuated to shore for medical treatment.

The BSEE report, explained the work being performed at the time:

On 18 September 2020, the IP was changing out elevator inserts on the hydraulic drill pipe elevators. To change the inserts, the elevators were positioned on the rig floor with the bails extended out so that the Floorhands can remove the metal segments by manually lifting or dragging the segments out of the elevator body. The IP was removing the bushings for the 5-inch drill pipe. As he lifted up on an elevator insert, his right leg moved and his left foot slipped into the 4.5-inch HydraRacker track gap. As a result, he lost his balance and fell, causing his left ankle to strike the HydraRacker track, resulting in injury.

BSEE’s investigation noted that the work being performed by the worker could have been done in a different location on the drillship, which would have been safer.  The hazard of performing work in that location should have been identified, either by the worker or a supervisor of the work being done.

BSEE identified numerous contributing causes of the incident:

The BSEE post investigation revealed the following contributing causes: 1) inadequate job planning since operations to change out the elevator inserts were in close proximity to the HydraRacker tracks; 2) lack of situational awareness of the risks involved when working near the HydraRacker tracks; 3) supervision failed to identify, evaluate and communicate the risks of changing the elevator inserts near the HydraRacker tracks; and 4) slip/trip/fall hazards of working near the HydraRacker tracks were not specifically / individually addressed in the Task Risk Assessment.

BSEE also issued an Incident of Noncompliance to Total E&P USA for what occurred:

Based on the incident investigation findings, a G-110 Incident of Noncompliance (INC) is issued to document that Total E&P USA Inc. failed to perform operations in a safe and workmanlike manner onboard the Pacific Drilling Khamsin drill ship that was conducting drilling operations at Garden Banks Block 1003. On 18 September 2020, a third-party contracted Prime Ocean Floorhand suffered a fractured fibula to his left ankle when he fell with his foot stuck in the HydraRacker tracks while removing bushings for the 5-inch drill pipe. Prior to the job task, supervision did not identify the hazards of working by the HyraRacker tracks. The Floorhand injury was a result of the failure to recognize that the 4.5-inch wide HydraRacker tracks posed a fall hazard while changing out the elevator inserts.

Our attorneys have extensive experience in maritime injury and wrongful death litigation in courts across the country and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives as a result of the negligence of another party, or been seriously injured.  We have handled numerous cases involving injuries that occurred on offshore platforms.  The experienced offshore accident attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of an offshore crane accident.  Please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or 877-678-5864 to learn more about your legal rights.