© Supplied by Petrofac North Sea workers were accidentally submerged almost to shoulder height after the lift they were in on an Ithaca Energy platform flooded with water.
The accident involving Aberdeen-based Ithaca Energy occurred on an oil platform in the Stella field, approximately 150 miles off the coast of Aberdeen, in December 2020.
Three men were only meant to descend around 100ft from the deck of the FPF-1 floating production facility down to the leg to carry out an inspection.
However, nobody on board the structure was aware of a bilge water build-up at the bottom of the platform.
When the lift descended, it began to lower the workers into a pool of water, before the quick-thinking trio reversed it and reached safety.
Ithaca Energy later pled guilty to one charge of exposing them to risks to their health and safety during a hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court last week.
‘Escape would have been difficult’
The court heard how the water rose to a height of 1.49m within the lift shaft, about 4ft 10in, just below the men’s shoulders.
Depute fiscal David Glancy told the court: “After getting into the lift, the men experienced a rush of air, then felt cold water that was rising.
“They managed to press the ‘stop’ button. The water reached 1.49m above the elevator floor.
“Had the lift kept going down and become flooded, escape would have been very difficult.”
Fortunately, the men were able to send the lift back up and reach safety, and nobody was hurt.
The incident, which happened at 6.30pm on December 10 2020, triggered a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into offshore safety processes.
Absence of a bilge water alarm
HSE officials issued Ithaca Energy with an improvement notice eight days after the incident and the notice was marked ‘closed’ on March 30 2021, after Ithaca met all the necessary requirements.
The platform did not have an alarm to alert staff to the presence of bilge water.
However, there is no regulatory requirement for an alarm, even now, five years after the incident, the court heard.
Before the lift incident, other staff on the platform had attempted to expel bilge water, using two different methods unsuccessfully.
‘Alarms are now installed on the platform’
Defence lawyer Alastair Gray told the court: “It is a matter of the greatest concern and regret in equal measure that staff were exposed to risk, for which Ithaca Energy must bear responsibility.
“The level of concern that the company shares about this incident is demonstrated by the fact that several senior representatives of the company are in the public gallery today.
“The failing was in no way deliberate. No safety alarm was required by law. However, alarms are now installed on the platform.”
He added that the firm had never breached safety regulations before, had taken all proper safety precautions since the incident and had a proud record of high safety standards.
Sheriff Ian Wallace said: “This could have been much worse than it turned out to be.
“It is another reminder of the importance of safety for workers in the oil and gas sector.”
How did the sheriff decide the penalty?
Because the accused in this case was a company, the only punishment available was a fine.
First, the sheriff considered the company’s annual turnover to determine the size of the firm.
The bigger the company, the higher the fine could be.
Ithaca Energy’s turnover of between £580m and £770m a year meant it was classed as a “medium-sized” company.
Second, the sheriff checked what the law said was a fair amount to fine the company for a particular offence.
That gave him a ‘starting point’ figure.
The sheriff could then add or subtract amounts from it if there were any aggravating or mitigating features of the offence.
In this case, the sheriff recognised that Ithaca Energy had taken steps to remedy safety issues since the incident and had pled guilty.
The firm could then get a discount for pleading guilty, sparing the need for a trial.
Sheriff Wallace fined Ithaca Energy £300,000 and added a 7.5% victim surcharge of £22,500.
It made the total penalty £322,500.
‘The company has treated the matter with the utmost seriousness’
After the court hearing, an Ithaca Energy spokeswoman said: “Ithaca Energy takes its responsibilities in relation to the health, safety and welfare of its employees and contractors extremely seriously, and takes considerable pride in its excellent safety record.
“The company has treated the matter with the utmost seriousness and accepts its responsibility for the failings that led to the incident, where thankfully no individual was harmed.
“A thorough internal investigation was launched immediately, and the company has worked closely with the HSE to implement and comply with the recommendations of their findings.”
