What happened?
A recent HSE prosecution is a tragic reminder that access safety controls must never be taken for granted.
Ensco Offshore UK Limited was fined £267,000, with a further £20,025 victim surcharge, after crewman Jason Thomas died on the Valaris 121 offshore rig. HSE found that he fell through a displaced grating panel into the North Sea while the rig was under tow towards Dundee for maintenance. His body was never recovered.
HSE investigators concluded that the grating panel had not been secured in line with the original equipment manufacturer’s specifications. Later inspections had also not checked the deployment of Hilti clips, which are used to secure gratings to their substructures and prevent them coming loose.
The key lesson is simple:
If people walk on it, stand on it or work from it, the structure must be secure, inspected and evidenced.
Why this matters to businesses
This incident happened offshore, but the lessons apply across many sectors.
Loose, damaged or poorly inspected access surfaces can exist in:
- Factories
- Warehouses
- Depots
- Plant rooms
- Rooftop areas
- Gantries
- Walkways
- Loading platforms
- Energy sites
- Water facilities
- Waste sites
- FM estates
- Public sector buildings
- Construction sites
- Temporary works areas
The risk is often hidden because people assume a walkway, grate or platform is safe simply because it is part of the site.
That assumption is dangerous.
Common failure patterns include:
- Access panels not properly fixed.
- Gratings not installed to manufacturer instructions.
- Inspection checklists missing key fixing points.
- Weather or vibration weakening components.
- Contractors using areas not recently checked.
- Temporary openings not marked or controlled.
- Defects recorded but not closed.
- Emergency response delays after an incident.
HSE said that simple measures to identify and control the underlying risks would likely have prevented the incident.
Who Is Affected?
SMEs
Small businesses may have mezzanines, access stairs, platforms, plant rooms, roof areas, tanks or service walkways. If these areas are used by workers or contractors, they need inspection and defect management.
Medium Businesses
Medium sized organisations often manage multiple sites or operational areas. Their risk is inconsistency. One site may inspect access platforms properly while another relies on informal checks.
Large Businesses
Large businesses need evidence led assurance. They should know which access areas are safety critical, when they were last inspected, who completed the inspection and whether defects are closed.
Multinationals
Multinationals face group level exposure where access infrastructure fails. A single incident can affect insurance, investor confidence, ESG reporting and global safety governance.
Contractors
Contractors often work on client sites and assume the access route is safe. Before starting work, contractors should confirm whether platforms, roofs, walkways and access points are inspected and safe to use.
Subcontractors
Subcontractors may have the least control over site conditions but the greatest exposure. They should be briefed on safe access routes, exclusions, temporary openings and stop work arrangements.
Public Sector
Public sector bodies manage schools, estates, depots, housing, waste sites, leisure centres and operational buildings. They should require evidence that access routes, plant rooms, platforms, gratings, roofs and maintenance areas are inspected and controlled.
Practical Actions Organisations Should Take Now
1. Identify safety critical access areas
List grating, gantries, walkways, platforms, roof access routes, plant rooms, mezzanines, ladders, voids and temporary openings.
2. Check manufacturer requirements
If access systems use clips, fixings, panels or proprietary parts, inspection should confirm they are installed and maintained to manufacturer requirements.
3. Update inspection checklists
Do not only check whether a surface “looks fine”. Check fixings, clips, corrosion, deformation, loose panels, missing sections and movement.
4. Control temporary openings
Any removed panel, floor opening or access void must be protected immediately with barriers, covers, signage and exclusion controls.
5. Review weather and vibration risks
Outdoor, marine, industrial and high vibration environments can loosen components faster than expected.
6. Brief contractors before work starts
Contractors should know safe access routes, restricted areas, inspection status and emergency arrangements.
7. Track defects to closure
A defect record is not enough. Actions need owners, deadlines and proof of completion.
8. Test emergency response routes
If someone falls, becomes trapped or goes missing, response must be immediate, rehearsed and clear.
How TPMG Can Help
TPMG helps organisations move from assumptions to evidence led operational control.
Relevant TPMG services include:
- Health & safety consultancy
- ISO 45001 internal audits
- Facilities and estates risk reviews
- Access safety inspections
- Asset integrity and maintenance reviews
- Contractor and subcontractor assurance
- RAMS and safe system reviews
- Operational assurance visits
- Emergency response readiness reviews
- Digital dashboards for inspections, defects and evidence
- Public sector supplier assurance
- Incident recovery and corrective action planning
The aim is practical:
- Safer access routes.
- Stronger inspection evidence.
- Clearer contractor controls.
- Faster defect closure.
- Better board level assurance.
Need confidence that your access routes, gratings, walkways, platforms, roofs, contractor controls and inspection records are strong enough?
Speak to TPMG about health & safety consultancy, ISO 45001 internal audits, access safety reviews, asset integrity audits, contractor assurance or operational compliance support.
