Oil worker’s death could have been avoided, fatal accident inquiry finds

The death of an offshore worker who plunged into the sea while carrying out routine maintenance checks on a lifeboat was avoidable, a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has found.

George Bartlett, 62, was on Taqa’s Harding platform, north-east of Aberdeen, when the accident happened in 2014. The lifeboat plummeted nearly 100ft and Mr Bartlett, from Shotts, Lanarkshire, died as a result of immersion in the water and the descent from height.

He was recovered from the sea and flown to Shetland in an effort to save him, but was later pronounced dead at Gilbert Bain Hospital.

Announcing his findings at the end of the Aberdeen FAI, Sheriff Andrew Miller said Mr Bartlett’s death was caused by him not following routine safety procedures. Sheriff Miller said the mechanical

technician had not secured safety pendants keeping the lifeboat in place and attached to the installation.

Mr Bartlett also failed to ensure shackle safety pins were properly inserted by having this verified by someone else.

He then operated the lifeboat release gear, contrary to a prohibition on doing so “of which he was aware”.

There were no defects in any system of working on Harding and Mr Bartlett had not followed the rules – but his death “might realistically” have been avoided if a few extra precautions were in place, Mr Miller said.

He said: “It is beyond doubt that Mr Bartlett breached a number of critical safety procedures, of which he was aware, in the moments prior to the fatal accident.

“But for Mr Bartlett’s actions, the fatal accident would not have occurred.

“There is a tragic contradiction between those undisputed features of the evidence and other evidence which I heard, and accepted, which indicated that Mr Bartlett was generally regarded by his colleagues as a man who took safety procedures in the course of his work seriously and who expected others to do likewise.”

Mr Miller said: “I wish to offer the sincere condolences of the court to Mr Bartlett’s family on his untimely death.”

George Bartlett.