Offshore Platforms Should Be Abandoned - Mirvari Gahramanli

The responsibility for the death of people as a result of the collapse of the overpass on the Caspian Sea lies with the employer, who is required to create a safe working environment. Such an opinion in an interview with the Chetin Sual column of Turan IA was expressed by the head of the Oil Workers Rights Protection Committee Mirvari Gahramanli, commenting on the tragedy at the Caspian Sea on December 15.

According to her, the loading platform 150 meters long was in disrepair and subject to either dismantling or major renovation. It was the emergency overpass that pulled the residential car with 10 oilmen into the sea.

According to the Labor Code, public supervision of the situation should be implemented by the trade unions. However, the trade unions in Azerbaijan are at the service of the employer.

The Trade Unions Committee of Oil and Gas Industry, which consists of 80,000 people, does not even have its own website. Labor inspectorates have no real authority, not to mention the implementation of control at the SOCAR enterprises.

The accidents that cause the death of people remain unpunished. Last year, after the fire on the platform at the field Guneshli in December 2015, killing more than 30 oilmen, no one has been prosecuted.

Gahramanli pointed to incompetence and rescue operations by the MOE. "Now the accident happened in shallow water, but because of the incompetent conduct of rescue operations, they cannot find the oilmen’s bodies, in spite of the attraction of a huge amount of equipment and manpower," she said.

Gahramanli considers it necessary to completely abandon overpasses in the sea and to use deep-sea platforms.

On the other hand, the accidents on overpasses in recent years were caused by irresponsible leaders and non-transparent funds allocated for repairs, she said. -03D06-