Petroleum Safety Significant Incident Report No. 01/2012 - Poorly designed flooring leads to slip and scalding by hot drilling fluid

The main contributor to this incident was inadequate hazard identification regarding this part of the drilling rig and therefore a lack of appropriate control measures.

There was also a lack of information communicated to new crew members about the hazards when working on wet and slippery surfaces above hot drilling fluids.

The incident could have been avoided if the drilling rig had properly designed flooring that:

• did not become slippery when wet
• extended to cover all gaps through which a worker’s limbs could protrude if they fell.

This incident also illustrates the importance of regular inspections and maintenance.

Preventive actions taken by the operator included:

• undertaking a risk assessment of the area, which led to the redesign of the grating and its surrounds to remove any slip hazard;
• closing gaps in the flooring that could present a fall hazard; and
• advising crews of the dangers of working with hot drilling fluid.