“The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) was recently notified of an incident involving an offshore worker who fell through an open hatch cover on a platform, highlighting the importance of situational awareness and the need for offshore workers to continuously check their surroundings for potential hazards.
Situational awareness applies to various work situations, including loose grating, damaged handrails, hot work areas, loads being lifted above or around you, red zones, and production and well operations related to pressure. This vigilance can be the difference between life and death.
BSEE recommends that operators and their contractors, where appropriate, consider doing the following:
- Check your surroundings prior to starting work for any potential hazards.
- Identify and document hazards and then communicate these to all personnel.
- Ensure the proper fall protection is used when working at heights.
- Check temporary equipment and work platforms for hazards prior to use.
- Utilize a spotter to help identify and communicate any hazards when working at heights.
- Install barricades and flag areas with questionable walking or working surfaces. Soft barricades (e.g., caution tape) may be temporarily used, but hard barricades should be installed.
- Ensure ladders that connect decks have safety gates that swing closed when not held open.
- Remind personnel to stay vigilant of their surroundings when working on or near elevated work platforms.
- Remind personnel to work at a pace that allows for continual reassessment of dynamically changing work environments.
- Follow approved procedures for the work being performed and outlined in the job safety analysis.
