Basket Transfer Injuries

In the offshore oil and gas industries, basket transfers are increasingly being used as a “safer” option for transporting workers between vessels, platforms, and rigs on the open water. Basket transfers have largely replaced plank and swing rope transfers, though these other methods remain in use as well.

However, while basket transfers may be safer than the alternatives, they still present numerous risks for seamen and other maritime workers. As a result, workers regularly suffer serious basket transfer-related injuries. At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, we believe in offshore workers’ rights to a safe work environment, and our trial attorneys are committed to holding the oil companies, basket manufacturers and other large corporations responsible for accident victims’ losses.

Common Factors in Offshore Basket Transfer Accidents

While basket transfers can result in accidents under even the best of circumstances, there a number of factors that can significantly increase offshore workers’ chances of suffering basket transfer injuries. These include factors such as:

• Bad weather;
• Defective basket design or manufacture;
• Inadequate basket, boom or cable maintenance;
• Lack of safety equipment and protocols;
• Negligent basket operation; and
• Rough seas.

When these and other factors lead to basket transfer accidents, workers’ employers, vessel and rig owners, basket manufacturers and other companies can all potentially be to blame. Should your transfer have been postponed until weather conditions improved? Should a more experienced operator have been put in charge of your transfer? Should the basket have been better designed to reduce the risk of injury? These are all critical questions we can help answer when you contact us for your free consultation.

Seeking Compensation for Basket Transfer Injuries

Regardless of what happened, at a minimum, there is a good chance that you are entitled to compensation under the Jones Act or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). These laws mandate that offshore employers pay limited no-fault benefits to employees who get injured on the job.

However, most employers do not pay without a fight. In addition, depending on exactly what happened, you may be entitled to full financial compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. As a result, it is critical that you speak with an attorney about maximizing your recovery as soon as possible.

Billy Pugh Basket Transfer Accidents

In the offshore industry, one of the most well-known basket manufacturers is a company called Billy Pugh. Billy Pugh baskets are used on all types of vessels, and despite being touted for their safety, transfers using Billy Pugh baskets still lead to accidents and injuries. If you have been injured while loading or being transported on any of the following types of Billy Pugh baskets, we encourage you to contact us right away:

• Personnel Workbasket (non-OSHA compliant);
• Derrick Basket;
• Steel OSHA Workbasket;
• Collapsible Cargo Basket; and
• Rigid Cargo Basket.

Contact Morrow & Sheppard LLP for a Free, Confidential Consultation

To learn more about your right to just compensation after an offshore basket transfer accident, contact our Houston maritime lawyers at Morrow & Sheppard LLP. We want to help you win the compensation you deserve. You can call us at (800) 489-2216 to speak with an attorney, or tell us what happened online and we will get back to you as soon as possible.