Hibernia workers nearly swept into ocean leads to new safety measures
The Hibernia Management and Development Company is developing new safety measures, after an incident in September that saw two workers nearly swept into the ocean.
Workers have not been permitted to work on the GBS roof slab on the concrete base of the production platform since waves knocked two of the men off their feet.
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) has halted all work on the slab until Hibernia comes up with new safety procedures and equipment.
Margot Bruce-O'Connell, a spokesperson with Hibernia, said the company has been working with the C-NLOPB following the incident, and the safety of personnel is a company priority.
"The C-NLOPB order is consistent with voluntary actions taken following the Sept. 14 incident. Since that time, we have not undertaken any work on the GBS slab. We are fully co-operating with the C-NLOPB and are consistent with their requests," she said.
Bruce-O'Connell said operations at the Hibernia platform have not been impacted by the C-NLOPB order, since there is no planned work in the near future.
"We will co-operate with the C-NLOPB and submit a plan that outlines additional measures we will implement that will further mitigate risk to personnel. I trust that will be something we'll work through with the C-NLOPB."
She added that while there is no firm plan in place, there isn't an increased risk to worker safety.
"We'll certainly take as much time as necessary to make sure we do this right and to map out a plan that we can share with the board that does outline additional measures," she said.
At the time of the incident, officials had stated that all workers involved were wearing immersion suits when the waves swept over the edge.