North Sea firm fined £300k after workers descended into water-filled lift in 'terrifying' incident
The horrifying incident happened on a floating platform in the North Sea during a night shift.
An oil and gas operator has been fined £300,000 after three crew members descended into a water-filled lift shaft.
The horrifying incident happened on a floating platform in the North Sea during a night shift on December 10, 2020.
It caused the workers - who had been descending in a lift located in one of the platform legs on the FPF-1 facility - to become partially submerged.
The water started to flood into the lift before they reached the bottom of the shaft, with the trio knee-deep in water by the time the lift was able to be stopped via the emergency button.
On Thursday, June 12, Ithaca Energy (UK) Limited - the owner of FPF-1 - pled guilty to safety failings at a hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
As reported by Aberdeen Live, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the three men had been tasked with carrying out inspection work at the base of one of the facility's sub-sea columns.
During preparations to clear the inspection site of standing water beforehand, the bottom of the lift shaft began to fill with water due to failings of hardware and incorrect operating procedures. A lack of water alarms in the bottom of the lift shaft meant the control room was unaware that water was filling the shaft.
As the three men descended in the lift, they experienced a 'rush of air' before their fears of something being wrong were confirmed when the base of the lift made contact with the water. The three men were able to press an emergency stop button and returned safely to the main deck, with none of them sustaining any injuries.
The investigation found that water marks on the lift door revealed it had reached a level of just under 1.5 metres before the lift was stopped and returned to surface.
Ithaca's own investigation determined that the water level could have actually reached more than three metres.
This meant the men would have found it difficult to escape through the top hatch of the lift if the workers had used the lift later and/or had not been successful in bringing the lift to a halt immediately.
HSE issued Ithaca with an improvement notice and work in confined spaces was stopped by the company until February 2021 to allow a full review to take place.
HSE inspector Ian Chilley said: 'This was a terrifying incident for the workers involved, we are just thankful that no physical harm came to them.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
'This fine should send a message and reminder to those operating offshore facilities for them to be extra vigilant.
'It was only a matter of good fortune that this incident didn't result in serious injury, or worse.'
When passing sentence, the sheriff observed the case marked "another reminder of the need for rigorous adherence to health and safety in the oil and gas industry".
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
RSPCA calls for 'outdated' goldfish prizes practice to end
According to new figures from the RSPCA, 89 per cent of adults in Wales consider keeping a goldfish in a bag to be animal cruelty. The animal charity has relaunched its #NoFunAtTheFair campaign, calling for a ban on giving pets as prizes—a practice it describes as outdated and harmful. Billie-Jade Thomas, senior public affairs manager at RSPCA Cymru, said: "As we approach the summer holidays and fairs and shows become more commonplace, we're urging our supporters to vote with their feet and not take part in the types of games where you can win a goldfish." Goldfish are the animal most commonly given away as prizes, although all 22 councils in Wales have banned it on their land. Since 2020, the charity has received 53 reports involving 400 animals given away in this manner. Evie Button, RSPCA animal welfare expert, said: "We all want to see a world where pets are acquired responsibly, well looked after and respected. "But sadly, many goldfish are at risk with their welfare hinging on the spur-of-the-moment result of a carnival game." The RSPCA is calling for a UK-wide ban on the practice, noting that it remains legal on private land in both England and Wales.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
From the drunk girl who knocked her own front teeth out to the father searching the garden bushes with a torch for couples having sex... One teenage girl's hair-raising revelations about post-GCSE party season
As the youngest of four children, and the last teenager still living at home, I know for a fact there is an annual event my mum dreads more than anything else. It's the 'End of GCSEs House Party', where clueless parents stupidly allow their 15 or 16-year-old Year 11 to invite a 'few' friends over to celebrate.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
'My daughter's school enforces a required equipment rule that could cost me a fortune'
A mum took to the internet to share her outrage after discovering her daughter's school introduced a new rule A mum has criticised her daughter's school for a 'daft' rule after fretting that it could cost her dearly. Parents will know well that having children does not come cheap. There is also no shortage of things mums and dads need to buy and this is especially true when it comes to school supplies. Pencils, textbooks, uniforms, shoes and backpacks are just some of the many essentials little ones need to help them learn. But one item, which isn't new but may not be considered a must-have, pushed one mum over the edge, prompting her to vent her frustrations online. The mother detailed how her 12-year-old returned home with a pink water bottle, which was a departure from the usual plastic Evian bottle she takes to school daily. After discussing it with her daughter, she learned that the school is pushing for waste reduction and is thus urging students to reuse their new, school-branded water bottles in class. While she supports the eco-friendly move, the mum raised concerns about the potential expense as her daughter has a habit of misplacing bottles. Sharing her struggle on parenting forum Mumsnet last year, she explained: "My daughter brought home a pink water bottle yesterday, I thought she'd brought home somebody else's, as she usually takes a bottle of Evian because she's forever losing them. "No, this is a new required equipment, with the school logo, her name, and form on it. I'm just worried that she'll lose it and I'll have to pay for a replacement, and another, and another." While the initiative received backing from all users on the forum, some questioned the need for the bottles to feature the school's emblem. A fellow parent commented: "My daughter's school has similar after a big thing to reduce waste, though no name on theirs, so what happens is as they get lost, they're all brought together so kids that lose them come and grab one with the right form colour lid. "This helps, I guess, more often, I find hers sitting on the table while she's at school - like right now." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Another user agreed: "Much better for the environment than single-use plastic. "Our school stipulates reusable water bottles but they can be any, not the school logo." A third user shared: "My daughter's secondary school has recently started this. Instead of buying a drink in a bottle, they buy a token and fill their bottles from a filling point. One more user added: "Seems quite a good idea - much better than taking in bottles of Evian every day and throwing away the bottles." What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
