Many times, working in the maritime, offshore industry means that you will find yourself on a lift boat, a drill rig, a lift rig or a platform. These are the main structures used to gather gas and oil from various mineral deposits deep under the surface of the ocean. Oftentimes, in order to transfer workers to and from their job site, a Billy Pugh basket, or personnel basket, is used to accomplish this. There is inherent danger in using this method of transfer, but that danger can be compounded upon when there are poor weather conditions or perhaps when the operator is less than adequately experienced.
The lawyers at the Kolodny Law Firm pride themselves on standing up for the victims of maritime basket transfer accidents and negligence. We’ve helped our clients secure significant recoveries for lost wages, medical expenses, compromised future earnings and more. Our maritime basket transfer accidents lawyers have helped many injured workers maintain, or get back to, their way of life. Reach out to the Kolodny Law Firm for a free consultation with a basket transfer accident lawyer today.
HOW BASKET TRANSFERS CAN BE DANGEROUS TO WORKERS
Usually, a basket transfer is conducted by a crane operator. The basket itself is connected to a crane when it is used to move personnel from one boat to another. Many maritime basket transfer accidents can happen because of situations like:
- Rough Seas
- According to safety protocols for Billy Pugh Basket safety, basket transfers should not be conducted during rough seas. Companies that ignore this protocol are at risk of negligence.
- High Winds
- High winds can cause sea vessels to move and jostle at various degrees. Attempting basket transfers during this time can be very dangerous.
- Human Error
- An inexperienced crane operator can easily lower a basket too fast or swing the crane too forcefully, causing injury to the occupant.
BSEE BASKET TRANSFER 2017 ACCIDENT BULLETIN
In 2017, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement issued a bulletin bringing attention and awareness to an incident in the Gulf of Mexico. Four offshore personnel were involved in an accident where 3 of the 4 were injured when they were subject to uncontrolled motion during a basket transfer that caused impact injury.