Two crew members working on an oil rig anchored just off the shore of Port Campbell in Australia last week have been killed in events that are leading to the questioning of safety measures on oil rigs across the country.
Surviving crew members working onboard the vessel, chartered by a prominent oil company, are refusing to return to work until the safety features of the rig are reviewed. The workers have been supported in their decision by the Australian Worker’s Union, who have claimed that working on an oil rig is one of the most treacherous jobs in the world.
The Australian Worker’s Union is attempting to pressure oil companies to ensure that their rigs offer more efficient safety measures, including emergency procedures and strategies to ensure that the rigs are as hazard free as possible to protect the lives of workers. The Union claims that they have been warning the Australian government about the multitude of hazards facing offshore workers in the oil and petroleum industry for some time now, but no action has been taken to reduce these hazards.
According to the accident report, the two workers were killed after a piece of equipment malfunctioned while the workers were using the Stena Clyde drilling unit. Company officials and crew members report that they had been concerned about the safety of this particular drilling unit, but their fears had been allayed by inspectors who claimed that the unit was clear.
However, last week the worker’s premonitions were shown to be well founded when two employees were killed on the drill floor. The exact circumstances around the incident are unknown.
There are a number of agencies that are investigating the incident, including the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, and the Stena Drilling company itself. The secretary of the Australian Worker’s Union, Mr. Cesar Melham, has reported that the machinery being used at the time of the accident was being used correctly by employees with significant experience and adequate training. To this end, Mr. Melham believes that the most likely cause of the accident is machinery malfunction.
The Australian government will review the findings of the investigation to determine whether any further safety protocols need to be implemented in the petroleum industry. In the meantime, the oil company and the striking workers are undergoing negotiations to determine what safety needs have to be met to encourage the workers to come back to work.
