Beam Falls -- Man Injured
Effective Date: 4/20/1976
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 040
April 20, 1976
OCS Operations Safety Alert
Beam Falls -- Man Injured
A wireline helper on an offshore production platform recently received injuries when he was struck by a falling steel beam.
In order to gain access to a wellhead for wireline operations a steel beam supporting a timber deck above the well was unbolted, the timbers removed and the beam moved to one side. A weight indicator used during wireline operations was tied to the beam. After wireline operations were completed the wireline operator was removing the weight indicator from the beam and inadvertently pulled the beam off its support. It fell to the well bay deck and hit the wireline helper. The man received a severe laceration on the left leg and bruises on other parts of his body.
To prevent a recurrence of this accident the operator is replacing the timber deck and beams around the well bay area with a solid steel deck containing 36" openings with removable covers above the wellheads.
[signed] D.J. Bourgeois
for D.W. Solanas
Oil and Gas Supervisor
Field Operations
Gulf of Mexico Area