13 Workers Safe after Oil Platform Explosion off Louisiana Coastline

There is a sense of déjà vu as we are writing this.  Just four months after the BP oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, another oil platform, this one owned and operated by Mariner Energy in Houston, exploded this morning off the Louisiana coastline.  The Vermilion production platform 380, was located just about 200 miles west of the Deepwater Horizon, which exploded in April.

They were 13 crew members on the platform when it exploded, and all men are alive and safe.  At least one worker has been injured.  The Vermillion oil production platform explosion threw all workers into the waters of the Gulf where they floated until they were picked up by a vessel.  Efforts are on now to bring the crew members back to shore. 

There are conflicting reports about whether this explosion has resulted in a spill.  The Coast Guard has said that there is a sheen on the water, while officials have not reported any spill as yet.

There have already been two massive explosions this year, even if the second one did not result in any fatalities, and we are still four months away from the end of 2010.  It's been a horrible year for offshore safety, and now more than ever, it's time that the federal administration begins to take the safety of our offshore maritime workers more seriously.  These are the men who are involved in producing the oil that fuels your SUVs and runs the economy, and the only time there is ever any talk about their safety, is when there's an offshore oil rig or oil platform explosion like this. 

It shouldn't take a third explosion for us to realize that there's a systemic problem with adherence to safety standards on these rigs. 

The maritime lawyers at Schechter McElwee Shaffer & Harris represent injured offshore workers in oil rig and platform accidents and explosions in the Gulf of Mexico and worldwide.  We have over 45 years of experience representing injured seamen, offshore platform workers, longshoremen, dock and harbor workers and anyone who works in a maritime setting.