As an offshore worker, you find yourself exposed to potential hazards on a daily basis. You may or may not work in an engine room, but you likely know of the accidents that can happen there.
It is common for fires to occur in the engine room, so it is recommended to have a functioning automatic fire detection system and a fixed fire suppression system according to the National Transportation Safety Board, although not required by the Coast Guard. Engine room accidents may be caused by a failure of pressurized components on the propulsion hydraulic system. Hydraulic oil may then spray onto the engine exhaust, which ignites it. If the proper fire detection systems are in place, then a fire of this kind can be suppressed quickly. Many engine room fires are started when equipment overheats, typically the generator. Because this is always a possibility, generators and other engine room equipment must be monitored closely at all times.
Harmonic filters are typically used in the engine room to decrease the risk of fire. Harmonics are currents and voltages that the engines need to operate, but are also prone to shortages and malfunctions. That is why a proper harmonic filter should be used, to reduce currents, fire hazards, and reduces ground voltage, among other things. Because machinery is complicated, figuring out the causes of engine room accidents can also be complicated.
There are many other causes of fires in engine rooms, so there should be frequent maintenance to ensure all equipment is running properly before operations. Employers should have the proper precautionary systems in place in order to protect their engine room workers from fire and other potential hazards. By having a fire detection system and a fixed fire suppression system in place, the risk for fire or the spreading of a fire is greatly reduced.
If you are an offshore worker and have been injured while working in the engine room by a fire or related accident, then you should contact an offshore injury attorney from Arnold & Itkin immediately. If you are classified as a seaman, you will be entitled to rights under the Jones Act. If not, you will likely be covered under some other type of maritime law. Accidents commonly take place because companies do not mandate proper care of vessel machinery, so malfunctions are frequent. If you sustained injuries in the engine room because of a negligent third party, then you are entitled to compensation. There are many types of accidents that can occur on an offshore vessel, and lawyers at our firm will know how to best represent you against your company to see you get just compensation.
Arnold & Itkin represented nearly a third of the crewmembers injured in the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Because maritime law is so complex and so complicated, it is crucial that you work with an attorney who has an in-depth understanding of how it works and who has proven themselves in similar cases before.
