{"id":9185,"date":"2016-07-06T16:49:46","date_gmt":"2016-07-06T15:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=9185"},"modified":"2016-07-07T11:16:28","modified_gmt":"2016-07-07T10:16:28","slug":"piper-alpha-victims-remembered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=9185","title":{"rendered":"Piper Alpha victims remembered"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Nearly three decades ago today, the deadliest offshore disaster in history unfolded as the Piper Alpha platform burst into flames, killing 167 of the 228 people either working on the rig or patrolling in a safety vessel nearby.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

An investigation later found that the operator Occidental Petroleum\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s safety procedures had been grossly inadequate \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the resulting report into the disaster by Lord Cullen made over 100 recommendations on improving health and safety offshore.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Much like today, in 1988, the year of the disaster, the industry was hit by a drop in the price of oil \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and the industry responded by massively cutting costs and in the process safety was compromised.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Piper Alpha was originally an oil-only platform but was fitted for gas production in 1980. Before the rig\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s modification to include gas, staff quarters were kept well away from the most dangerous production components of the rig. But afterwards, gas compression units were placed next to the control room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The safety problems were compounded when the operator decided it would not stop oil and gas production as it carried out construction, maintenance and upgrade works. On the night of the disaster, following a shift change, staff did not realise they were not supposed to be using a piece of pipework that was sealed with a temporary cover and which had no safety valve.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

An ensuing gas leak caused a mass explosion and the platform went up in flames. The raging fire was not fully brought under control until three weeks later. The disaster that killed 167 has to this day cast a shadow over the affected families, the offshore workforce, and their communities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOur thoughts today are with the families, friends and work colleagues of those who so tragically died in the Piper Alpha disaster 28 years ago,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said Unite regional officer Tommy Campbell.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAs a mark of respect we ask that everyone take a few minutes out of their day to remember all of those who have been touched by a tragedy of such devastating proportions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bBeyond today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s anniversary, the best way we can honour those who lost their lives on Piper Alpha is to vigorously continue in our campaign to ensure offshore oil and gas\u00c2\u00a0 companies commit to the highest standards of health and safety through meaningful engagement with the workforce and their trade union representatives.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bSince the drop in the price of oil last year, the oil and gas industry is going down the same road it did three decades ago when it slashed costs to maintain profits and in doing so this could create an alarmingly dangerous work environment,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Campbell added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOil and gas companies have gone on a cost-cutting rampage over the last year, slashing tens of thousands of jobs and cutting back on pay and other terms and conditions. Those who are still left in the workforce are being asked to do more for less.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Changes to shift patterns following the downturn in the price of oil mean offshore workers are working dangerously long hours leading to major stress levels at work,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he noted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bSlashing pay, terms and conditions has also had a devastating effect on worker morale, which is another contributing factor to stress and fatigue that could also create a health and safety ticking time bomb.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe demand that the oil and gas industry honour the victims of Piper Alpha and all of those who have lost their lives offshore by ensuring there is a serious commitment to the highest health and safety standards and working with their employees and the offshore unions through the offshore coordinating group (OCG)<\/a> to achieve this.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All those listed below died on the night of July 6, 1988 in the disaster. Unite pays tribute to them:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ian Geddes Anderson, Dual Service Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Anderson, Catering Manager<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark David Ashton, Trainee Technician\/Cleaner<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wilson Crawford A Bain, Valve Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Barry Charles Barber, Diving Consultant<\/strong><\/p>\n

Craig Alexander Barclay, Welder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alan Barr, Electrical Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brian Philip Batchelor, Seaman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amabile Alexander Borg, Non-Destructive Tester<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hugh Wallace Brackenridge, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander Ross Colvin Bremner, Production Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eric Roland Paul Brianchon, Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hugh Briston, Scaffolder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Henry Brown, Welder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephen Brown, Assistant Chef\/Baker<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gordon Craib Bruce, Helicopter Landing Officer<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Bruce, Logger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carl William Busse, Directional Drilling Supervisor<\/strong><\/p>\n

David Campbell, Cleaner<\/strong><\/p>\n

David Allen Campbell, Scaffolder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander Watt Cargill, Electrician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Carroll, Safety Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alan Carter, Lead Production Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Cleland, Derrickman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephen Colin Cole, Radio Officer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hugh Connor, Instrument Technician\/Lecturer<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Edward Sherry Cooke, Plater<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Thomas Cooper, Instrument Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

William Nunn Coutts, Chef<\/strong><\/p>\n

William John Cowie, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael John Cox, Scaffolder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alan Irvin Craddock, Drilling Supervisor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Edward John Crowden, Electrical Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bernard Curtis, Deputy Production Superintendent<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jose Hipolito Da Silva, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Stephen Dawson, Telecom Engineer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eric Deverell, Production Clerk<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander Duncan, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charles Edward Duncan, Floorman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eric Duncan, Drilling Materials Man<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Duncan, Engineer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thomas Irvine Duncan, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

William David Duncan, Crane Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

David Alan Ellis, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

Douglas Newlands Findlay, Supervisor Mechanic<\/strong><\/p>\n

Harold Edward George Flook, Production Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

George Fowler, Electrical Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander Park Frew, Plater<\/strong><\/p>\n

Samuel Queen Gallacher, Pipe Fitter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Miguel Galvez-Estevez, Assistant Chef<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ernest Gibson, Mud Engineer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Albert Stuart Gill, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ian Gillanders, Instrument Pipe Fitter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kevin Barry Gilligan, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shaun Glendinning, Painter<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Edward Thomas Goldthorp, Motorman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephen Robert Goodwin, Geologist<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Edward Gray Gordon, Floorman<\/strong><\/p>\n

David Lee Gorman, Safety Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kenneth Graham, Mechanical Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peter John Grant, Production Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cyril James Gray, Safety Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Harold Eugene Joseph Green, Rigger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael John Groves, Production Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Hackett, Electrical Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ian Hay, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thomas Albert Hayes, Rigging Supervisor<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Heggie, Production Services Superintendent<\/strong><\/p>\n

David William Henderson, Lead Floorman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philip Robert Houston, Geologist<\/strong><\/p>\n

Duncan Jennings, Geologist<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jeffrey Grant Jones, Assistant Driller<\/strong><\/p>\n

Christopher Kavanagh, Plater<\/strong><\/p>\n

William Howat Kelly, Electrical Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ian Killington, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Brian Kirby, Production Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stuart Gordon Charles Knox, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander Rodger Laing, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

Terence Michael Largue, Scaffolder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Graham Lawrie, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Findlay Wallace Leggat, Scaffolder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brian Lithgow, Photographic Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Rodger Littlejohn, Pipe Fitter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martin George Longstaffe, Logger<\/strong><\/p>\n

William Raymond Mahoney, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Morrison Martin, Rigger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sidney Ian Mcboyle, Motorman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Borland Mccall, Chief Electrician<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Mcculloch, Hvac Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alistair James Mcdonald, Mechanical Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander Mcelwee, Plater<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thomas O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122neil Mcewan, Electrical Chargehand<\/strong><\/p>\n

William George Mcgregor, Leading Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

Frederick Thomas Summers Mcgurk, Rigger<\/strong><\/p>\n

William Hugh Mcintosh, Floorman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gordon Mckay, Valve Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charles Edward Mclaughlin, Electrician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Neil Stuart Ross Mcleod, Quality Assurance Inspector<\/strong><\/p>\n

Francis Mcpake, Steel Erector\/Rigger<\/strong><\/p>\n

David Allison Mcwhinnie, Production Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dugald Mclean Mcwilliams, Welder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carl Mearns, Rigger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Derek Klement Michael Millar, Supervisor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alan David Miller, Industrial Chemist<\/strong><\/p>\n

Frank Miller, Scaffolder<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Hector Molloy, Engineer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leslie James Morris, Platform Superintendent<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bruce Alexander Ferguson Munro, Floorman<\/strong><\/p>\n

George Fagan Murray, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Cowie Niven, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Graham Sim Noble, Materials Man<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122shea, Electrician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Rennie Pearston, Mechanic<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ian Piper, Motorman<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wasyl Pochrybniak, Lead Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Raymond Leslie Price, Production Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Neil Pyman, Engineer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Terence Stephen Quinn, Service Engineer<\/strong><\/p>\n

William Wallace Raeburn, Maintenance Controller<\/strong><\/p>\n

Donald Reid, Chargehand Engineer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Welsh Reid, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gordon Macalonan Rennie, Process Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Miller Richard, Production Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alan Riddoch, Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adrian Peter Roberts, Roughneck<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander James Robertson, Lead Production Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Donald Nicholson Robertson, Mechanical Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gary Ross, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Hector Ryan, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stanley Sangster, Foreman Scaffolder<\/strong><\/p>\n

James John Dearn Savage, Electrical Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Hugh Brodie Scorgie, Lead Foreman<\/strong><\/p>\n

William Alexander Scorgie, Pipe Fitter<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Francis Scott, Scaffolder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Colin Denis Seaton, Offshore Installation Manager<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Hendry Selbie, Turbo Drill Engineer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Jeffrey Serink, Logger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Bernard Short, Foreman Rigger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Richard Valentine Skinner, Assistant Driller<\/strong><\/p>\n

William Hamilton Smith, Maintenance Lead Hand<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Speirs, Mechanical Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kenneth Stuart Stephenson, Rigger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thomas Cunningham Boswell Stirling, Cleaner<\/strong><\/p>\n

Malcolm John Storey, Seaman<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Campbell Stott, Plumber<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jurgen Tilo Stwerka, Research Chemist<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stuart Douglas Sutherland, Student\/Cleaner<\/strong><\/p>\n

Terrence John Sutton, Mechanical Fitter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander Ronald Taylor, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alistair Adam Thompson, Telecom Engineer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Argo Vernon, Production Operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Edward Wakefield, Instrument Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Andrew Walker, Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bryan Thomas Ward, Rigger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gareth Hopson Watkin, Offshore Medical Attendant<\/strong><\/p>\n

Francis John Watson Head Chef<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander Whibley, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kevan Dennis White, Maintenance Supervisor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robert Whiteley, Roustabout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Graham Gill Whyte, Aerial Rigger<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Gilbert Whyte, Aerial Rigger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alan Wicks, Safety Supervisor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul Charles Ferguson Williamson, Floorman<\/strong><\/p>\n

David Wiser, Survey Technician<\/strong><\/p>\n

John Richard Woodcock, Technical Clerk<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nearly three decades ago today, the deadliest offshore disaster in history unfolded as the Piper Alpha platform burst into flames, killing 167 of the 228 people either working on the rig or patrolling in a safety vessel nearby.   An investigation later found that the operator Occidental Petroleum\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s safety procedures had been grossly inadequate \u00e2\u20ac\u201c […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4668,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[111,214,543],"wps_subtitle":"Unite marks 28th anniversary","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9185"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9185"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9186,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9185\/revisions\/9186"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}