The details are few and investigation is ongoing, but for the family of an unidentified man, life will never be the same.
In the early morning hours of August 16, workers on a shallow-water oil and gas production platform in the Gulf of Mexico were transferring a heaving piece of equipment from the platform to a workboat. Suddenly the crane collapsed, triggering a tragic series of events that resulted in the death of one worker.
What happened? That is the question The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) and the worker’s employer, Energy Resource Technology, are trying to answer. However, the operator’s report filed with the BOEMRE may provide clues critical to the investigation.
According to the report, the boom hoist cable apparently failed. This failure led to the crane buckling and, eventually, to the worker receiving a fatal blow.
Legal Protection for Workers and Their Families
Offshore work, by nature, is dangerous and can be deadly. However, Federal maritime law provides legal protection for offshore workers when negligence causes serious injury, disability or even death. For example, under the Jones Act, employees may have the right to pursue maximum compensation for losses such as:
- Diminished physical capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Medical Expenses
- Lost income and lessened earning capacity
- Inability to provide household services
For families who lose loved ones due to fatal maritime accidents, compensation may be available under the Death on the High Seas Act. If a worker is killed beyond three nautical miles from the shore, parents, spouses, children and/or other dependents may have the right to pursue a legal claim.
Following a maritime workplace accident, injured workers or grieving families may choose to consult with an experienced offshore rig injury attorney. By doing so, they will learn what their rights are and what legal options are available. If a claim is initiated, the attorney will work to uncover the causes of the accident and hold negligent parties accountable for putting employees at risk.
Source:
- Boemre Confirms Platform Fatality
