An oil and gas giant has been fined thousands of pounds for health and safety failings which led to the death of a rigger.
David Stephenson, 44, was crushed to death on board the Wellservicer about three miles from Aberdeen Harbour on April 1, 2009 – the same day as the Super Puma helicopter disaster, which killed 16 people.
The vessel was operated by Technip UK, which previously admitted failing to ensure a safe system of work – ultimately leading to his death.
Fiscal depute Geoffrey Main told Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday that Mr Stephenson – an engineer with about 18 years’ experience – was part of a team carrying out repair work on a diving bell, a chamber used to transport sub-sea engineers into deep water.
While harnessed on top of the structure, the 44-year-old was hit and pinned against the bell by a four-tonne steel bell cursor which had been hanging overhead.
His colleagues frantically struggled to winch the cursor up and Mr Stephenson was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where doctors tried unsuccessfully to revive him.
A post-mortem examination concluded that his death had been caused by chest injuries, and that he had also suffered severe chest asphyxia.
Defence advocate Gavin Anderson told the court the company sincerely regretted Mr Stephenson’s death and offered their condolences to his wife, friends and family.
Mr Anderson told the court that since the tragedy, the firm had revised its safety procedures and had not had any serious accidents.
He said the accident had been caused by the failure of the winch, which should have prevented the cursor from falling.
The court heard the staff carrying out the work had a “misplaced reliance” on the recently-purchased winch, and had apparently been told it was “fail safe” by manufacturers.
Mr Anderson added that it was a “sad irony” that Mr Stephenson’s safety harness, which was used to stop him falling from the bell, potentially prevented him from getting out of the way of the cursor.
Sheriff Graham Buchanan fined the company £160,000, to be paid over three months.
Speaking last night, the firm said it “deeply regrets” the tragic incident.
A spokeswoman said: “David’s death was a tragedy that the company deeply regrets, and both David, and his family remain in our thoughts.
“Technip accepts it made mistakes, has taken action to remedy those, and continuously invests in and develops its HSE practices to ensure it provides a safe place of work.”