CAUSES
AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF OIL RIG EXPLOSIONS OR FIRES
As evidenced by the recent (November 2014) deadly explosion
on the Black Elk Energy oil platform in West Delta 32 that took 3 lives, the
2012 Chevron oil rig K.S. Endeavor, which caught fire while operating off the
coast of Nigeria, and the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon mammoth disaster in the
Gulf of Mexico, oil rig explosions have the potential to have serious
consequences. Multiple workers may be at risk of serious harm or may lose
their lives.
Causes and
Contributing Factors of Oil Rig Explosions or Fires
The various causes of an explosion or fire on an oil rig are
virtually innumerable. An offshore oil platform is a hazardous place.
Workers are required to operate or work in close proximity to heavy
machinery and combustible substances. Rough seas and heavy weather can
make the environment unpredictable at best. All it takes is a single
mistake, defect in a piece of equipment or freak accident to cause a fire or
explosion that leads to the injury or death of numerous workers and even the
sinking of an entire platform.
Some examples of potential hazards that may cause oil rig
explosions include:
·
Improperly grounded electrical equipment or
wiring.
·
BOP failing to properly function due to design
or equipment error or failure to maintain the BOP.
·
Fires from defective batteries.
·
Defective ventilation systems that cause a
back-up of hazardous fumes.
·
Improperly stored fuel or other combustible
substances.
·
Poorly maintained hoses, pipes, or pipelines
that leak or spray fuel.
·
Improper use of welding devices or torches near
combustible substances.
·
·Corrosion of electrical equipment.
·
Failed equipment.
·
Failure to follow proper procedures for
maintaining or cleaning the equipment.
·
Human error.
·
Failure to adhere to the JSA and other safety
procedures.
Injuries Caused by
Fires and Explosions on Oil Platforms
A worker on an offshore oil platform may be at risk of
sustaining debilitating or life-threatening injuries and even death in an
explosion or fire. Some of the injuries that may be caused by these
incidents include:
·
Death from the fire or explosion;
·
Burns;
·
Broken bones, lacerations and crush injuries
caused by the force of the explosion;
·
Crush injuries caused by falling objects or
debris;
·
Exposure to toxic chemicals or other hazardous
substances;
·
Electrocution and electric shock;
·
Loss of hearing;
·
Brain damage;
·
Spinal cord injuries; and
·
Dismemberment / loss of limb.