Workers exposed to radiation face cancer tests for rest of lives

Offshore: Men say they are living ‘sixmonths at a time’ following incident

Oil workers who were exposed to radiation on board a North Sea rig are facing cancer tests for the rest of their lives.

The men, who may have ingested contaminated particles while removing redundant pipework on EnQuest's Thistle Alpha, argue they are now living “six months at a time”.

Medical staff initially based health risks on an eight-hour window when the team could have breathed in the alpha radiation.

But the Wood Group workers, who were on ad hoc contracts, claim there were “multiple exposures" over a 21-day maintenance shutdown.

When they got back to dry land, medics told them there was a “low chance" they could develop cancer, but they “could not rule it out". Unions have warned them they would have to develop a health issue before making a claim against their employers.

Rigging supervisor Steve Innes, from Sunderland, was exposed to the Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) in December.

The 20-year industry veteran claims EnQuest and Wood Group have failed him in their duty of care.

He said: “We've got to have blood tests every six months for the rest of our lives. Our families are distraught.

“They ( the company) have admitted what has happened, but said we can't do anything about it.

“We’re in no-man's land. We've got to worry about this for the rest of our lives and there's nothing we can do unless we contract cancer."

The men were under the impression proper risk assessments had been carried out ahead of them starting the job.

But more than eight hours into the job, an inspector noticed radiation readings from the exposed pipework.

None of the men were wearing personal protective equipment.

Mr Innes added that, once back in Aberdeen, they were briefed by amedical professional who could not guarantee their health would not suffer in the long run.

A Wood Group spokeswoman responded: “The health and safety of our people is a lways our top priority. As a precaution, following the incident, we down manned our employees from the platform in order to conduct medical assessments.

“We fully supported EnQuest in a detailed joint investigation and continue to reinforce the application of our health and safety procedures, to ensure the safety of our employees.”

EnQuest confirmed the exposure earlier this week, but claimed it was less than 1% of the level reportable to HSE.

The Thistle Alphalies 125 nautical miles north-east of Shetland.

“Medics told them there was a ‘low chance’ they could develop cancer”

DANGER AT SEA: The Thistle platform where the incident occurred