Summary
On 18 May 2026, Ensco Offshore UK Limited (EO UK Ltd) was fined a total of £287,025 (including a victim surcharge) following the death of 50-year-old crane operator Jason Thomas. On 22 January 2023, while the Valaris 121 offshore rig was under tow to Dundee, Mr Thomas fell through a void in the deck created by a displaced floor grate and was lost to the North Sea. Despite an extensive search, his body was never recovered. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the grating had not been secured according to the original manufacturer’s specifications and that subsequent inspections failed to identify that the necessary Hilti clips were missing or improperly deployed.
Analysis
The incident underscores a significant failure in maintenance and inspection protocols regarding safety-critical deck infrastructure. The HSE determined that wave action during severe weather—with 30mph winds and five-metre waves—applied enough upward pressure to dislodge the unsecured polymer grating. The analysis of this tragedy highlights three primary failings:
Technical Failure: The grating system was not installed or maintained to the required safety standards, specifically regarding the fixings meant to secure it to the substructure.
Inspection Oversight: Routine checks failed to recognise that the grating was vulnerable to environmental stress, particularly during a rig move where wave impact is a foreseeable risk.
Emergency Response Latency: Although a colleague heard the grate displace at 4:00 pm, HM Coastguard was not contacted until nearly 9:00 pm, representing a significant delay in the official search and rescue timeline.
Following the incident, the firm’s decision to replace all polymer gratings with galvanised steel across its entire fleet suggests an admission that the previous material or its securing mechanism was fundamentally unsuitable for the harsh conditions of the North Sea.
Article link: Offshore firm fined following death of worker on Valaris 121 whose body was never recovered – HSE Media Centre