Carelessness Causes Electrocution of Texas Engineer

The U.S. Coast Guard has determined that carelessness while testing a circuit-breaker was the cause of the electrocution death of a young engineer near Galveston, Texas. Twenty-four year old Christopher Erickson was killed aboard the chemical tankerS/R Wilmington in January 2009 while he was working as a third assistant engineer. The incident that caused the death, a routine electrical function check, is not a usually dangerous task.

Erickson and the first engineer were conducting the check and replacing a circuit breaker that failed and had been removed during the previous watch. The test lead involved handling exposed wires that were used to connect power from an electrical test panel to a solenoid. At some point during the check, Erikson's hands made contact with the bare exposed wires of the makeshift test lead, causing the fatal electrocution. Investigators report that both engineers made mistakes that led to the casualty, and witnesses reported that the first engineer and Erickson "never discussed the entire scope of the circuit breaker repair and replacement job."

Upon further investigation, the Coast Guard discovered that the engineering officers aboard the S/R Wilmington often failed to fill out new work permits before each job in the electrical workshop and did not always wear protective equipment when handling live circuits. The 617-foot vessel was operated by SeaRiver Maritime Inc., a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corp. Even though basic electrical safety practices were in place aboard the ship, they were not being routinely followed. SeaRiver responded to the fatality by modernizing test panels and checking all of their fleet's safety equipment.

If you have lost a loved one in a fatal offshore accident, you understand the dangers involved with the maritime industry. It is tragic when a maritime worker dies as a result of carelessness or negligence, and the law represents the rights of the victim's family through wrongful death claims. A Texas offshore injury lawyer is experienced in handling maritime accident claims and can advocate on your behalf in court. A settlement or verdict can give your family the financial compensation you need to recover and send a strong message that preventable deaths will not be tolerated. Contact a Texas maritime accident attorney today to learn more.