Welding hazards can be lethal in offshore drilling
Despite an intensified focus on safety since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and oil spill, nearly 20 smaller oil companies continue to score poorly on safety inspections and have had their offshore platforms placed on a special watch list, according to data obtained by WWL-TV from the federal government.
Records suggest new federal regulations and tougher enforcement have caused larger, more established operators to improve their safety culture, but the government’s offshore safety agency is still struggling to make sure smaller independents and their far-flung contractors are stepping up safety.