A NORTH EAST engineering company has been fined £200,000 after a worker suffered life-threatening injuries after falling from a platform..

The Able UK Limited worker was involved in the dismantling of the Brent Bravo, a former North Sea oil and gas platform in July 2019.

The huge platform, which weighed in at 25,000 tonnes dominated the Teesside skyline when it was decommissoned by Able UK. 

Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard the worker had fallen about 15 metres from a platform when it collapsed unexpectedly.

Able UK Limited, which has apologised for the incident, was contracted to dismantle four platforms from the Brent North Sea oil and gas field.

Read more: Darlington: Cleveland Bridge fined £1.5m after worker's death

The incident occurred on July 31 during the removal of a module located on the north west corner of the Brent Bravo platform.

The Northern Echo:

The court heard the planning team had not recognised that one of the platforms was not part on the main structure and was attached to the platform using bolts that had corroded over time.

During the cutting of bracing beams, the platform unexpectedly collapsed causing one of the employees to fall 15 metres.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that Able UK Limited failed to carry out a full structural appraisal of the platform prior to demolition.

The company, which is based in Haverton Hill Road, Cleveland, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws and was fined £200,000.

It will also have to pay £20,991.24 in costs following an order by magistrates sitting at Teesside.

Read more: Two men admit the manslaughter of Tomasz Dembler mid-trial

After the hearing, HSE inspector Richard Littlefair said: “When undertaking demolition work where structures are being left in a pre-weakened state, it is essential for those in control of the work to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of all those involved with the work. 

“This includes ensuring that consideration is given to the stability of structures before and during demolition work, as well as ensuring that control measures are in place to mitigate other associated health and safety risks such as work at height.”

The Brent Bravo, which stood at 410 ft tall and 230 ft wide, was the second platform from the Shell Brent field to be decommissioned and recycled at Able UK's Seaton Port.

An Able UK spokesman said: "First and foremost Able UK Limited wish to emphasise its deepest regret with respect to the accident that occurred at Able Seaton Port on 31st July 2019. In particular we wish to apologise and continue to extend our support to the friend and colleague involved.

"Able places the health, safety and well-being of our staff at the forefront of our actions and behaviours, but on this occasion, the detailed systems and procedures that were in place failed to prevent this serious incident. Whilst this is our only prosecution in over 50 years of trading, this is of no comfort to either ourselves, or the affected parties.

"We have fully cooperated with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and have undertaken a comprehensive review of our procedures, taking into account the findings of the HSE investigation. We are wholly committed to ensuring that our working practices are the subject of continuous improvement, rigorously adhered to and reflect the highest industry standards."

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054