Fatality
Effective Date: 5/3/1976
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 041
May 3, 1976
A welder was fatally injured recently on an offshore drilling rig while 30" structural casing drive pipe was being installed.
The welder was on the rig floor with his back to the pipe rack removing a pad-eye from a joint of casing in the rotary table. Another joint of casing was being hoisted with a crane from the pipe rack to the V-door. During this lifting process a pad-eye on the forward end of the casing caught on the edge of the floor. When the casing was raised further to work it free, it swung into the welder pinning him against the casing in the rotary table and inflicting fatal injuries.
To prevent a recurrence of this accident, the operator is placing the following recommendations into practice:
1. All personnel working on the rig floor or general area while heavy tubular loads are being lifted by the crane into the V-door will stand back and clear the area until such time as the load is landed in the V-door.
2. One long and one short sling will be used to place the load at an angle to prevent it from swinging into the floor.
3. Tag lines will continue to be used as in the past to help steer the load and prevent uncontrolled swing.
[signed] D.W. Solanas
Oil and Gas Supervisor
Field Operations
Gulf of Mexico Area