Jones Act Maritime Lawyer : Houston Jones Act & Maritime Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Arnold & Itkin Law Firm : Offshore Injury, Maritime Law : Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida

A new satellite-based GPS, already operational in parts of Florida, could lead to fewer helicopter accidents as oil rig workers are transported to and from platforms.

The ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system, is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) $20 billion plan to revamp the country’s antiquated air traffic control system over the next decade. The system is expected to be in place within the next 5 years, but in parts of Florida, pilots are already using the satellite-based GPS data to obtain the same information air traffic controllers can see on their monitors. The GPS allows controllers to locate the position of an airplane far more accurately than they currently do with data from ground-based radars. With the new system, pilots and air traffic controllers will be able to access data generated by the second.

The ADS-B system will be especially beneficial in the Gulf of Mexico, where helicopter flights carrying oil rig workers currently operate without air traffic control monitoring. With an ADS-B system installed on a helicopter, the pilot will be able to observe the movement of other aircraft in the vicinity, thus reducing the risk of accidents. In addition to making offshore helicopter travel safer, the new system will also increase efficiency.

Helicopter Safety

Helicopters have replaced watercraft as the primary means of ferrying oil rig workers to and from shore. Using these helicopters has lead to greater efficiency and reduced travel time, however, as offshore helicopter traffic in the Gulf of Mexico has increased, so has the number of accidents. Earlier this year, a Sikorsky helicopter carrying offshore rig workers crashed in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The helicopter was carrying nine oil rig workers from Louisiana to a Shell oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2007, a Bell helicopter crashed south of Sabine Pass; five oil rig workers including the pilot were killed in that accident.

Offshore helicopter operators will benefit greatly from installing the new system on their fleet. They stand to gain from greater safety, increased efficiency, and fewer maritime accidents and injuries.

If you've been injured in a helicopter crash or other maritime accident, you may be able to recover compensation with he help of a maritime lawyer. Contact a maritime attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your case.

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A maritime worker who sustained serious injuries as a result of a fall into a 4-foot opening on an oil rig filed a maritime lawsuit against Diamond Offshore Drilling in Jefferson County District court. The worker, Jesus Perez, was working on a submersible oil rig called Ocean Washington in March 2007 when the accident occurred.

The suit alleges that Diamond Offshore Drilling was responsible for the fall because of defective grading that resulted in the formation of the opening. At the time of the accident, the platform had been docked at a shipyard in Sabine and was undergoing repairs. Perez was involved in performing repair work when he fell into the opening. He was an employee of Prime Electrical Services which was hired by Diamond Offshore Drilling for the repair work. The fall left Perez with arm, shoulder, hand, and neck injuries. The accident resulted in extensive medical expenses as well as long term physical impairment. Perez also claimed:

• lost wages
• loss of future earning capacity
• mental anguish
• pain and suffering

He is seeking damages in addition to interest and other costs he sustains.

It appears that the drilling company was negligent in providing a safe working environment for Jesus Perez. The opening of the platform that Perez fell into, according to the lawsuit, was the result of misplaced grading; the drilling company was responsible for making sure that such potential hazards were absent from the platform.

In the accident, Perez was not technically a seaman, but he is still eligible to receive compensatory benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. This act covers all people working on a vessel and engaged in repairs, unloading, and loading of cargo and other maritime activities. Workers covered under this act may be eligible to receive a benefits package that includes medical expenses, disability payments, and the costs of rehabilitation after an injury.

Maritime Accidents

Injured workers may not always be aware of their rights under maritime law, which is why it is important to seek the counsel of a maritime attorney before accepting the benefits package offered by a company. A maritime attorney can advise you on the kind of benefits you are eligible for, ensuring that you receive the full compensation you deserve.

If you've been injured in a maritime accident, contact the maritime attorneys at Arnold & Itkin LLP to answer any questions you may have about compensation.

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As investigations in the helicopter crash in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana that killed 8 offshore rig workers continue, the safety of riggers and engineers who constantly use helicopters on the job, is receiving much needed attention.

The Sikorsky S-76 C helicopter that crashed 10 minutes after taking off, was carrying 9 workers from Amelia, Louisiana to an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico owned by the Shell Oil Company. The helicopter was owned by PHI Inc.  The workers on board the helicopter were on their way to repair damages caused by Hurricane Gustav.  

The crash has turned attention to the safety of the hundreds of offshore workers required to frequently travel between rigs and platforms by helicopter. Air travel has not been a major cause of maritime accidents and fatalities in the oil and gas industry; one of the country's deadliest sectors. The mortality rate in this industry is estimated to be up to 7 times greater than in other sectors. Between 2003 and 2007, 526 people died on the job in the oil and gas industry; 20 of these died in air accidents. The biggest danger to workers in the industry comes from accidents in the field, such as being hit by falling objects, which alone causes more than 50% of all oil rig accident-related deaths. Over the past decade, the worker death rate in the industry has doubled from 15 deaths in 1999 to 30 deaths for every 100,000 workers in 2007. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the increase in the number of deaths in maritime accidents can simply be attributed to increased drilling activity. 

Helicopter Crash Maritime Accidents

In 2008, a Bell 206 helicopter headed to a drilling platform 18 miles off the coast crashed into the water, killing the pilot and 4 oil field workers on board. The accident is still under investigation. Everyday, hundreds of helicopter flights are routinely made, transporting employees to and from rigs and platforms. The majority of these end safely, but the risk of injuries and fatalities with this concentration of aviation traffic in the industry is very real, as proven by the Terrebonne Parish helicopter crash.

If you have been injured in an offshore accident, you will need expert representation by an experienced maritime lawyer to ensure that you recover the compensation you deserve from all parties. At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we have the skills necessary to successfully represent you. 

Contact an experienced maritime attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your case.

 

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Galveston County Daily News reported that a Louisiana welder was killed when he fell from an offshore oil rig platform where he was working in the Gulf of Mexico.  Church Point, Louisiana welder Thomas Broussard was killed Monday morning when he fell 100-feet from an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, four miles south of Galveston island.

At the time the story was published, OSHA was not yet investigating the fatal offshore accident because they had not yet received an official report of the worker's death.  Broussard worked for worked for Frank’s Casing Crew and Rental Tools, an engineering services company based in Louisiana.

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The Coast Guard medevaced a 52-year-old man from an oil rig platform approximately 40 miles east of Venice, Louisiana, in the Gulf of Mexico, this morning.

A watchstander from Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call at 7:48 a.m. from a co-worker on the Viosca Knoll 900 oil rig reporting that a man had suffered from a heart attack.

Air Station New Orleans launched an HH-65C rescue helicopter crew to assist.  The helicopter crew hoisted and transported the man to Air Station New Orleans where he was met by an ambulance and transported to West Jefferson Hospital. The man is listed in stable condition.

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