Fall -- Fatality
Effective Date: 12/10/1979
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 091
December 10, 1979
Safety Alert
Fall -- Fatality
A welder's helper recently received fatal injuries when he fell through a hole in the deck grating of an offshore production platform.
A welder removed a piece of deck grating about 36 by 41 inches from the cellar deck and went to a boat tied up to the platform to get a replacement piece. While he was gone a welder's helper stepped off of an overhead piece of pipe where he was working and fell through the hole in the deck into the water. He struck several objects while falling and received fatal injuries.
To prevent a recurrence of this type of accident, the operator has instructed all of its contractors in situations such as this to:
1. Mount a guard at the opening until such time as the opening is sealed.
2. Rope off the opening; or
3. Not remove the section of grating until they are ready to install the replacement.
4. Cover the opening with boards or steel.
[signed] D.W. Solanas
Oil and Gas Supervisor
Operations Support
Gulf of Mexico Area