Fatal drill rig accident

Monday the industry was rocked by an accident that, tragically, ended up in loos of life. A drilling rig collapsed and fell, trapping the operator beneath the equipment in an unstable trench which extended the rescue operation; this being said, there is no way to say at this point if a quicker rescue would have changed the outcome.

Though equipment stability is a major concern for all heavy equipment, it is not the first hazard that comes to mind thinking about drill rigs. The causes of the accident have not been yet identified or released, but in the light of the outcome, I think it is safe to say that the hazard assessment process, especially equipment stability, and the rescue plan had flaws.

I haven't said the things above in an attempt to speculate the cause of the accident or to point a finger. Such tragedy should not be used for speculation or demagogy. Instead, we should look at our operations and wonder if confronted with a similar scenario we would have fared better. Are we doing the best we can to avoid a reiteration of this accident? Have we asked the right questions? Have we involved the right people? Are we doing a hazard assessment appropriate to each case, or using a "template" that will do for this project? Are we ready for the worse case scenario?

When starting the next job we should have these images in mind and spend a few more minutes to look around and think if we considered all the potential hazards. And we should not allow the passing of time to tame us into complacency.