Publisher's Synopsis
The pipe handler machine was being used to relocate tubulars from the catwalk to the pipe bay deck. A Roustabout was serving as the pipe handler operator (Operator) and supervisor for the task, while being accompanied by another Roustabout acting as a pipe handler spotter (Spotter). The Operator proceeded to traverse the pipe handler approximately 16 feet on its trolley back to the starboard side in preparation to pick-up the next joint. The Operator then noticed the Spotter was injured and lying down on the pipe deck, so the Operator immediately pressed the pipe handler's emergency stop button. A crush point that existed between the pipe handler's lower travel assembly and one of the trolley's vertical support stanchions had pinned and crushed the head of the Spotter. The Spotter suffered severe head trauma and was first attended to by the onsite Medic who found no signs of life. The Spotter was later pronounced deceased at the accident scene by the attending Medi-vac personnel. The Minerals Management
