Information is power. When New Orleans workers are armed with the necessary information for their job, they have the power to perform efficiently and effectively. Not only do workers need to know the skills necessary to do their job tasks, they must also be aware of information that can help them stay safe on the job. This minimizes the chances of injury to oneself and others, and maximizes the likelihood of workers enjoying a long career in their profession.
The benefits of safety knowledge are particularly obvious for drill ship workers and other maritime workers. While many offshore petroleum workers enjoy a relatively high rate of compensation, they also deal with relatively high risks. The federal government understands these risks and has enacted regulations on how employers must educate their workers on the dangers of well operations.
Well operators are required to instruct their personnel regarding the safety requirements of the well operations to be performed. They must also educate workers about possible hazards that may be encountered and general safety considerations for the protection of personnel. Well operators must also establish a well-control plan for each oil well. These plans must provide guidance for how to deal with situations where maximum anticipated surface pressure conditions may be exceeded.
Well operators that do not meet the requirements of these federal regulations may be subject to sanctions from the federal government. They may also be subject to a claim for compensation for workers injured because of safety violations or other acts in breach of the operator’s duty to workers. Admiralty law provides options to injured maritime workers. They have the opportunity to hold employers accountable.
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office, “What instructions must be given to personnel engaged in well operations?,” accessed on Oct. 27, 2016