A number of anonymous employees in the Danish part of the oil and gas industry in the North Sea are sharply criticizing safety after a serious work accident. They warn of life-threatening conditions with outdated cranes, unreported gas leaks and a culture where criticism of the conditions can cost the job. This is reported by JydskeVestkysten.
- It is a true miracle that no one has lost their lives. We have had so many high-potential accidents – especially with the lousy cranes, says an employee who works for TotalEnergies, which operates several platforms in the North Sea.
On May 16, an employee from the subcontractor Altrad lost his foot in a walkway between Norwind Helm and the Valdemar Alpha Bravo platform. The foot later had to be amputated. According to the employees, the accident is not unique. They tell of episodes with condensate and gas leaks, often without subsequent information or action. Critics point out that TotalEnergies presents a glossy image of safety, while the real practice ignores risks when production is threatened.
The Gorm and the newly renovated Tyra Øst platforms in particular are described as problematic, where, according to employees, cranes are already worn out after a few years, and buildings are collapsing. Several say that employees fear reprisals if they speak out critically – and therefore choose silence.
TotalEnergie's safety and environment manager, Louise Kolding, rejects the criticism and states that they have initiated an internal investigation and followed the Danish Working Environment Authority's immediate order. The company has also changed the instructions for using the footbridge where the accident occurred.
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