Firm fined after North Sea worker fell to death through hole in rig

A company has been fined £287,000 after an offshore worker fell to his death through a hole on a North Sea rig.

Jason Thomas, from Newport in Wales, was reported missing from the Valaris 121 about 100 miles (161km) south east of Aberdeen in 2023. The jackup rig had been under tow to Dundee.

After the 50-year-old crewman disappeared, a grating outside a door was found to have been dislodged.

Ensco admitted breaching health and safety at work guidelines at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. The company was fined £267,000, with an added victim surcharge taking the total payable to £287,025.

Ensco admitted a single charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Richard Brown, for the Crown, said the "experienced" crewman was regarded by those who knew him as friendly, positive, professional, and safety conscious.

He was last seen leaving a lounge area, and a colleague then heard a loud noise.

He looked through the door and was able to see a grating sitting on top of other gratings - leaving a void with the North Sea below it.

Thomas could not be located on board, and the alarm was raised, sparking a search and rescue operation.

It was called off the following day, and his body was never recovered.

The fiscal depute said the Crown position was that the number of fastening clips had been insufficient, and wave action on the journey would have been sufficient force to cause them to fail.

Barry Smith KC, for Ensco, offered the "sincere condolences" of the company for what had happened.

He said Ensco had no previous convictions and it had been a "tragic accident".

He said the company had the "utmost regret" that its health and safety efforts had not been sufficient.

Smith said it was accepted there had been a failure to ensure the grating was properly fastened to prevent detachment while under tow.

"Lessons have been learned," he added.

Sheriff Morag McLaughlin said there had been "absolutely a very, very tragic outcome".

She said she accepted the company had an excellent safety record and had made a comprehensive response.