Alert 01 – 44 Fall from Height, Fatality
Alert 01 – 44 Fall from Height, Fatality
WHAT HAPPENED:
Although this incident did not occur on a drilling rig, many rigs have similar ladders and landings. A welding supervisor fell over 9 meters (30 feet) to ground while descending from a fixed vertical hooped ladder. The welding supervisor had been carrying out routine weld inspections in preparation for a plant turnaround, prior to descending the ladder to return to grade. An eyewitness reported that the supervisor lost 3 point contact with the ladder and fell backwards through an unprotected section of ladder, hitting the handrail, pivoting over it and falling to grade. This vulnerable section of ladder between the top of the handrail and bottom of ladder guard hoops is highlighted in the photograph below.