Energy firm fined after North Sea workers caught in ‘terrifying’ lift shaft incident

An energy firm has been fined £300,000 after three offshore workers narrowly escaped harm when a lift shaft filled with seawater in a “terrifying” incident.

It happened on Ithaca Energy’s FPF-1 floating production facility in the North Sea in 2020.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it was only the reactions of the workers – using an emergency-stop function – that prevented physical harm.

Ithaca Energy was fined at Aberdeen Sheriff Court after admitting breaching health and safety guidelines. The company said it took the incident seriously.

What is known as the Victim Surcharge was also applied, bringing the total penalty to £322,500.

The HSE had previously revealed that on the evening of 10 December 2020, two employees were setting up temporary equipment as part of a system for a “potentially high-risk operation” to remove residual water from an area.

They inadvertently filled a lift shaft with seawater.

The HSE said the three people travelling down the lift to carry out work were semi-submerged in seawater.

Only their own reactions – using the emergency-stop function on the lift and returning to the main deck – prevented the potential of “serious personal injury”.

The HSE said the workers were knee-deep in water by the time the lift was able to be stopped.

After the court case, HSE inspector Ian Chilley described it as a “terrifying incident” for those involved.

“We are just thankful that no physical harm came to them,” he said.

“This fine should send a message and reminder to those operating offshore facilities for them to be extra vigilant.

“It was only a matter of good fortune that this incident didn’t result in serious injury, or worse.”

Ithaca said in a statement after last Thursday’s court case: “Ithaca Energy takes its responsibilities in relation to the health, safety and welfare of its employees and contractors extremely seriously, and takes considerable pride in its excellent safety record.

“The company has treated the matter with the utmost seriousness and accepts its responsibility for the failings that led to the incident, where thankfully no individual was harmed.”

The statement added: “A thorough internal investigation was launched immediately, and the company has worked closely with the HSE to implement and comply with the recommendations of their findings.”