Fall highlights need for demolition structural appraisal

摘要

Able UK, a civil engineering company, has been fined ￡200,000 and ordered to pay ￡20,991 costs after a worker was seriously injured in a 15-metre fall during the dismantling of the Brent Bravo, a former North Sea oil and gas platform. The fine equates to 1.2% of the company's most recent pre-tax profit. Able UK had been contracted to dismantle four platforms from the Brent North Sea oil and gas field. The incident occurred at Able Seaton Port, Teesside during the removal of a module located on the northwest corner of the Brent Bravo Platform. While planning the removal of the module, it was noted that there were three platforms on the cellar deck of the structure that would need to be moved to allow the module to fall safely. The planning team did not recognise, however, that one of the platforms did not form part of the main structure and was instead attached to the platform using bolts that had corroded over time. This affected the structural integrity of the platform and the methodology required to remove it safely. On 31 July 2019, during the cutting of bracing beams, the platform unexpectedly collapsed causing life-threatening injuries to one of the company's employees.