Spagnoletti Law Firm has filed a lawsuit under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) on behalf of an offshore worker who suffered severe injuries after falling through deteriorated decking on an offshore platform.
Incident Overview
On December 3, 2022, the plaintiff, a scaffold supervisor, was working on an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico when he encountered a dangerous and life-threatening hazard. While walking on the top deck of the platform, an area expected to be structurally sound, the wooden decking beneath him suddenly gave way. The plaintiff fell through the compromised flooring, but managed to catch himself before falling to the level below. Though he avoided an even more catastrophic fall, he sustained serious injuries from the sudden collapse and impact.
How Companies Must Prevent Structural Failures on Offshore Platforms
Offshore platforms are high-risk work environments, and operators are required to ensure that every structural component is regularly inspected, maintained, and repaired to prevent life-threatening incidents. A deck collapse is one of the most dangerous failures that can occur on an offshore structure, yet it is entirely preventable with proper safety protocols.
Routine Structural Inspections Are Critical
The lawsuit alleges that regular inspections were either not conducted or were inadequate, allowing a deteriorated and unsafe deck to remain in use. Federal regulations and industry best practices require platform operators to:
- Conduct frequent structural integrity assessments to check for weaknesses in flooring, grating, and deck materials.
- Perform non-destructive testing (NDT) and load-bearing evaluations to ensure decks can safely support workers.
- Replace rotted wood or corroded metal deck sections immediately upon identifying signs of degradation.
Marking and Restricting Unsafe Areas
When any part of a platform is identified as structurally compromised, safety protocols dictate that access must be restricted to prevent injuries. The lawsuit claims that no warnings or barriers were in place to prevent the plaintiff from stepping onto unsafe decking. To prevent similar accidents, platform operators must:
- Barricade hazardous areas and mark sections of decking under inspection or repair.
- Use highly visible signage to alert workers of areas that should not be accessed.
- Communicate safety risks to all personnel during daily shift meetings and safety briefings.
Ensuring Safe Work Surfaces Before Issuing Work Permits
The lawsuit alleges that work permits were issued for the plaintiff to perform duties on the platform without verifying the structural integrity of the work area. Platform operators must:
- Conduct thorough pre-job safety analyses (JSAs) to confirm that all work surfaces are secure.
- Require supervisors to verify decking stability before assigning tasks in the area.
- Immediately halt work if new hazards, such as weakened flooring, are discovered.
Allegations of Negligence in Maintaining a Safe Offshore Platform
The lawsuit claims that the platform’s owner/operator failed in several key ways, including:
- Failure to inspect and maintain the platform’s decking, allowing it to deteriorate.
- Failure to identify and repair compromised flooring, creating a hidden hazard.
- Failure to restrict access to dangerous areas, leaving workers unaware of the risk.
- Failure to issue stop-work orders when hazardous conditions were present.
- Failure to enforce safety policies requiring daily inspections of high-traffic work areas.
According to the lawsuit, these failures created a foreseeable danger that led directly to the plaintiff’s injuries.
Next Steps: Understanding Your Rights Under OCSLA
Workers injured on offshore platforms have legal protections under OCSLA, allowing them to hold platform operators accountable when preventable hazards result in serious injuries. Injured offshore workers may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including emergency treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing care.
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity due to long-term or permanent injuries.
- Pain and suffering, including both physical and emotional distress from the injury.
- Punitive damages, in cases where an employer’s negligence was extreme or reckless.
Unlike standard workplace injury claims, lawsuits involving offshore platforms require a deep understanding of OCSLA and maritime law. Consulting an experienced offshore injury attorney is crucial to navigating these complexities and ensuring that all available legal remedies are pursued.
Contact Spagnoletti Law Firm for Offshore Injury Claims
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury while working on an offshore platform, oil rig, or vessel, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit under OCSLA and maritime law. The attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm have extensive experience handling cases involving offshore injuries, platform safety violations, and employer negligence.
To learn more about your legal options, contact us online or call 713-804-9306 for a free consultation. There are strict deadlines for filing offshore injury claims, so don’t wait to take action.