An offshore services company has been fined £100,000 after serious safety failings led to the death of one of its staff.
Rope access worker Lee Bertram fell 75ft from the Brent Charlie platform and plunged into the North Sea when the equipment he was using failed.
Efforts were made to rescue and revive the 37-year-old – who was working for Bilfinger Salamis UK Limited at the time – but he could not be saved.
Yesterday the company appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted failing to ensure the job he was doing at height was properly planned and carried out in a manner which was safe.
On June 16, 2011 Mr Bertram, who was from Northumberland, had been using ropes to access the deck and carry out a sweep for objects which could have fallen into the water, potentially injuring divers working in the sea below.
As Mr Bertram was returning to the platform he stopped just below a hatch to open his rope protector so he could climb up the working rope and past the edge.
This would have allowed him to move through the hatch.
However, as he pushed down on his foot loop to come up, both the main and the safety rope sheared against the sharp edge of the hatch and dropped into the sea, hitting steelwork as he fell.
When he landed in the water, his lifejacket inflated and a lifeboat was launched, but despite showing some signs of consciousness during the rescue he died from his injuries before reaching the onsite hospital.
Health and safety inspectors concluded that had the work been properly planned the edge of the hatch would have been identified as being sharp and the risk of rigged ropes coming into contact with it could have been prevented.
Sheriff Graeme Napier said that he had taken into account the company’s good safety record since the incident.
He said: “I for one have some familiarity with this environment having at one stage in my career specialised in dealing with this type of case.
“I have visited the Brent field on a number of occasions. I do not underestimate the harshness of the environment in which individuals such as Lee Bertram work.
“They are entitled to look to their employers and those responsible for designing their work to place safety of the staff at the top of their list of priorities.”
Last night a spokesman for Bilfinger Salamis said: “Following the incident, we openly communicated with the industry, shared our initial findings and have subsequently been working with the authorities to fully understand the circumstances of the incident.
“Our thoughts at this difficult time are with Lee’s family and friends.”