Offshore Diving Dangers

To the outside world, commercial offshore diving might appear to be exciting and filled with opportunities in deep waters; however, there are tremendous on-the-job offshore diving dangers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the fatality rate of commercial divers is 40 times higher than the national average for other professions. Not only are divers subject to turbulent currents and hyperbaric pressures, but they also have to deal with heavy, complex equipment. Even a momentary issue with diving equipment can result in serious injuries. And, since many offshore diving accidents occur 100 feet or more below the water’s surface, it is challenging for divers to react in time to get help.

The United States Coast Guard Code does offer protection to divers engaged in commercial operations. However, although there are strict regulations in place, some employers and vessel owners fail to meet the required safety standards, and their negligence puts divers at risk. When a commercial diving company does not follow required safety procedures and divers are hurt, victims are eligible for Jones Act compensation.

Common Offshore Diving Dangers

There are thousands of ways divers can be injured or killed in the deep ocean, including:

• Arterial gas embolism: An AGE is caused by overexpansion of the lungs, which results in torn alveoli and air being released into the pulmonary capillaries. Air bubbles travel through the heart and brain, where they cause stroke-like symptoms. AGE can be severe, causing immediate collapse and/or death upon surfacing, or it may look more like mild decompression sickness.
• Deadly underwater animal life: While they can be beautiful to look at, sharks, eels, manta rays, and other underwater creatures can prove dangerous or even deadly to a commercial diver.
• Decompression sickness: Also known as the bends or DCS / DCI, decompression sickness occurs when bubbles form inside the body. Mild cases are treatable but severe cases can be fatal; therefore, offshore divers must follow strict decompression procedures to ensure their safety.
• Defective equipment: Commercial divers use lifesaving equipment every single day. Any piece of equipment can malfunction and put the diver at risk of injury or death. And, since a diver’s equipment is crucial to keeping them alive underwater, regular inspection and maintenance are necessary. When equipment fails during a dive, there may not be enough time to surface, and/or the failure may cause immediate injury or even death.
• Delta P: Two out of three commercial diving fatalities result from Delta P. When two bodies of water that are of different pressures meet, a force is generated as the high-pressure water tries to run into the low-pressure water which can cause divers to get trapped in position.
• Environmental conditions: The conditions of the ocean can make commercial divers’ jobs harder due to reduced visibility, strong currents, bad weather, and limited support while underwater. In addition, extremely cold water can pose serious threats to divers.
• Explosions: Fires and explosions are extremely common injuries for commercial divers. An explosion can occur onboard a ship or happen underwater, for example, if a diver is working with hazardous chemicals or flammable materials. The equipment and processes involved in oil and natural gas extraction can also trigger large explosions.
• Nitrogen narcosis: Certain gasses cause intoxicating effects on human divers under high pressure. Severe cases of nitrogen narcosis can make divers lose consciousness, which can cause them to run out of air and drown.
• Running out of air: Whether a diver is breathing air from a tank or a surface line, the air can stop flowing due to faulty equipment or a pinched oxygen hose.

Insufficient training and supervision, failure to follow safety procedures and protocols, and grueling work schedules also contribute to the dangerous conditions that commercial divers must confront regularly. In addition, not all offshore diving injuries occur in the water. Divers, like other seamen who work aboard vessels, are also at risk for onboard injuries.

Texas Diving Accidents

Unfortunately, offshore diving accidents are particularly common near Houston due to the influence of Texas’s large oil and gas industry. Thousands of divers and maritime workers put their lives at risk while inspecting offshore oil rigs, building and maintaining underwater structures, repairing underwater components involved in oil and gas extraction, or operating dive boats.

To complete job assignments, Texas offshore divers often must handle extremely hazardous and toxic materials. For example, they can be required to use high-voltage torches or explosives to install or remove pipelines, platforms, and other steel structures. Some of the pipeline casings also contain explosives that can be set off by one careless misstep.

Texas offshore diving accidents can cause permanent brain damage, paralysis, and even death. If you or a family member have suffered an offshore diving injury, you might be eligible for compensation under the Death on the High Seas Act, the Jones Act, and other maritime laws. A skilled maritime accident lawyer can help you determine your legal options and prepare a personal injury claim to recover the monetary damages you and your loved ones need to recover physically, emotionally, and financially.

Learn How the Offshore Injury Lawyers at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. Can Help

The Houston offshore injury lawyers at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. have decades of experience successfully representing victims of offshore diving accidents across the Gulf Coast. Our team of maritime attorneys will be able to guide you through the legal system and build the strongest possible case. We’ve successfully helped our clients obtain award-winning maritime injury case results for damages including medical costs, loss of earning capacity, physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and more.

You can schedule a free and confidential consultation with a knowledgeable offshore accident lawyer from The Krist Law Firm, P.C. by calling (281) 326-9202. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today.