Prosecution Result Summary Result Convicted and fined $150000

							Prosecution Result Summary
Defendant:         Sedco Forex                     ACN / ARBN / ABN             089 654 295
                   International Inc.
Industry:          Offshore Petroleum              Defendant Type:              Company (ARBN)
Offence Date:      26 November 2004                Date of Determination:       29 April 2008
Incident Type:     Crush injuries / Hit by         Magistrate / Judge:          Magistrate
                   moving object / Crane                                        Goldsbrough
Incident Summary:
On the 26th of November 2004 a 33 year old Roustabout was seriously injured when he was crushed
under a 2.7 tonne heavy steel Diverter Running Tool (DRT) which was knocked by a moving
gantry crane. A second Roustabout was also standing nearby, and sustained minor physical
injuries. Both workers were significantly traumatised by the incident.
The Roustabouts were working on the Jack Bates Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit, which was
operating about 68 kilometres South of Portland, Victoria. It was being used for petroleum
exploration and was operated by Sedco Forex International Inc, also known as Transocean.
After Drillers had secured the DRT to a Dodge Truck, it was lowered down to the Pipe Deck, where
the Roustabouts were to remove the DRT and put it into storage. At the time, no person had
identified that one end of DRT was protruding more that the allowed distance over the saddle end of
the Dodge Truck or that this would obstruct the travel path of the Pipe Deck crane.
Once the Dodge Truck was on the Pipe Deck, the crane driver moved the gantry crane into position.
As he did this, one crane leg struck the lifting nubbin which was still connected to the protruding
end of the DRT. This resulted in the DRT swinging around and off its saddle. One Roustabout was
knocked to the deck and the heavy end of the DRT rolled over his legs. The other jumped clear.
The Roustabout who was hit by the DRT sustained numerous injuries, including a head fracture, leg
fractures and heavy blood loss, and had to be revived. It was three and half hours before he could
be evacuated from the platform and once in hospital almost his entire left leg was amputated.
The section 21(1) & (2) (a) charges related to a failure by the company to ensure the potential for
overhanging on the Dodge Truck was eliminated or reduced so far as was practicable. This was
despite an earlier incident of a similar nature having occurred in 2001, when a gantry crane on
another oil rig, operated by the Defendant, collided with a catwalk in its path and killed a worker.
The section 21(1) & (2) (e) charges related to a failure by the company to provide training on the
dangers associated with overhang or any real supervision of the DRT storage work. Furthermore
the crane driver was not appropriately qualified to operate the crane and he was not supervised.
Court Number:                                   Jurisdiction:     Melbourne Magistrates Court

CHARGES:
Act & Section (Maximum Penalty)                                                             Count (s)
OH&S Act 1985 - s 21(1) & (2)(a) Employer failed to provide & maintain so far as              1
was practicable for employees a safe working environment - plant & systems of work.
(2500 penalty units.) (Indictable offence triable summarily.)
OH&S Act 1985 - s 21(1) & (2)(e) Employer failed to provide & maintain so far as              1
was practicable for employees a safe working environment – information, instruction
training & supervision. (2500 penalty units.) (Indictable offence triable summarily.)
Plea:   Guilty, on both charges.                    Fine:       $75,000, on each count.

Result:       Convicted and fined $150,000.             Plus $25,000 costs.