The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) are calling for significant changes at WorkSafe WA following the regulator’s decision not to prosecute companies involved in a near-fatal incident on an offshore oil platform in 2021.
The incident, which occurred during the decommissioning of Santos’s Sinbad oil platform, was captured on video and shared widely on social media by the Offshore Alliance.
In July 2021, two workers narrowly escaped death when the lifting process of the Sinbad platform went disastrously wrong.
The head of the platform, suspended by a crane, swung wildly, forcing the workers to cling to the side of the tower to avoid being crushed or struck by broken steel cables slicing through the air.
The dramatic footage highlighted the perilous conditions faced by the workers.
The decommissioning operation involved multiple companies: Santos, which contracted Dutch company Fugro for the removal, Swiss-based Allseas, which provided the crane-equipped vessel, and rope-access technicians from the then Singapore-listed AusGroup.
Despite the severity of the incident, WorkSafe WA has decided not to pursue legal action against the companies involved.
The regulator cited several reasons for this decision, including the time elapsed since the incident, the difficulty in accessing witnesses, and the challenge of proving a breach beyond a reasonable doubt.
Additionally, WorkSafe WA noted that the cost of prosecution might be disproportionate to the maximum potential fine of $110,000 at the time of the incident.
This decision has sparked outrage among the unions representing offshore workers.
Thomas Mayo, Assistant National Secretary of the MUA, criticised the companies involved, accusing them of prioritising speed and cost over safety.
He also condemned WorkSafe WA for its inaction, stating that the agency needs a complete overhaul if it cannot fulfil its duty to protect workers.
Will Tracey, the MUA’s WA Branch Secretary, echoed these sentiments, emphasising that the incident warranted immediate and rigorous prosecution.
He warned that if WorkSafe WA does not take action, the unions would push for a complete restructuring of the agency.
Kade Wakefield, Acting National Secretary of the AWU, described WorkSafe WA’s decision as an alarming failure.
He stressed that the regulator’s primary mission is to ensure worker safety and hold negligent employers accountable, a mission he believes WorkSafe WA is failing to uphold.
The unions’ call for action underscores the need for a robust and proactive safety regulator capable of enforcing workplace safety standards and holding companies accountable for endangering workers’ lives.
The controversy surrounding WorkSafe WA’s decision not to prosecute highlights significant concerns about the effectiveness of current safety regulations and the enforcement mechanisms in place to protect workers in high-risk industries.
