Firm fined after North Sea worker fell to death through hole in rig
Summary
A company named Ensco was fined £287,000 after a worker, Jason Thomas, fell to his death through a hole on a North Sea oil rig in 2023. The accident happened when a metal cover, called a grating, became loose during the rig’s tow to Dundee, making the work area unsafe.Key Facts
- Jason Thomas, a 50-year-old worker from Newport, Wales, went missing from the Valaris 121 rig about 100 miles southeast of Aberdeen.
- The hole in the rig deck was caused by a grating that was not properly fastened and became dislodged.
- Ensco admitted breaking health and safety rules and was fined £267,000 plus a victim surcharge, totaling £287,025.
- After the worker disappeared, a search and rescue operation was conducted but his body was never found.
- The company had no previous convictions and expressed regret over the accident.
- Officials said the number of clips holding the grating was too few, and waves during towing caused it to fail.
- Ensco stated it had learned lessons from the incident and had a strong safety record before this event.
- The court described the accident as very tragic and noted Ensco’s comprehensive response to the situation.
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