Killed Transocean oil worker was fiercely concerned about BP safety standards

[Robbien]

Source: Raw Story

At least one of the eleven men that died in the initial explosion that triggered a disaster in the Gulf expressed concerns about safety practices on the oil rig.

Transocean toolpusher Jason Anderson told his wife, Shelly, that he was concerned about BP's safety practices on the rig. Anderson was so worried about an accident that he spent his last trip home getting his affairs in order.

"Everything seemed to be pressing to Jason about getting things in order. In case something happened. Teaching me how to do certain things on the motor home so that I could go and do things with the kids, make sure that I knew how to do everything," an emotional Shelly Anderson told NBC's Lisa Myers.

Her husband drew up a will and talked about his hopes for their daughter and son.

The last few times Jason called her from the rig he was was clearly worried.
Story continues below...

Read more: http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0603/killed-rig-worker-suspected-bp-cutting-corners/

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[Mari333]

1. lots of workers know things.

and are afraid of saying anything, out of fear.

[Oceansaway]

2. K&R...n/t

[Lagomorph]

3. Another case of....

...clueless "experts" shooting their mouths off, in complete ignorance, while the guy who would know gets ignored and then killed.

[Iowa]

15. Yep... front-line workers know the most (by far), but nobody ever bothers to consult them.

Front-line workers would shoot down a massive amount of idiocy if they were running things. And the world would be a much better place.

[liberation]

27. There has alway been this weird contempt for trades among parts of this society

It is always about the mighty buck, they who have the cash are correct and their opinions automatically validated, even when they are wrong.

[Iowa]

29. Yep, and it's the same in professional occupations...

That's where I worked, and the same pecking order bullshit applies there. Those who actually DO the real work are in the best position to call the shots (as opposed to those who simply leech off those who do the work). But they're seldom consulted when it comes to making the most important decisions. The screw-ups and loss of productivity is massive because of it.

[Lagomorph]

31. They promote and listen to people who tell them what they want to hear...

For the most part, those people never deliver, but hide it well. As long as the bottom line advances, they just don't care if they're full of shit.

[rainbow4321]

32. You must have a spycam at my workplace

Cuz you're describing it so well.

They send out "kudos" emails to everyone, including the higher brass, about workers who are seen sitting on their asses all day or the one who treat their peers like shit) about what teamworkers they are and then other management reply with "oh, yes, that worker is wonderful keep up the good work, we truly appreciate you".
Those of us in the know are going "are you KIDDING me"? Meanwhile those who do keep the trenches running are looked upon as troublemakers when they try to speak up about that kind of behavior or poor work environment.

[freebrew]

36. It's amazing ....

how this is so much like every corporation I have worked for. Promotions for imcompetence, Stifling suggestions from the floor, etc.

Age discrimination legal for the bottom line. You name it, it happens. It's really no wonder the mfg sector is losing out in this country.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. That is waaaaaay beyond sad.

[laundry_queen]

5. Probably not the only one.

I believe the reason that BP and other oil giants have no idea how to clean up this type of mess is because safety procedures prevent it from happening very often. Then you get some fucking idiot manager who figures he can cut corners to make his profit sharing bigger that quarter. (not saying that's what happened here, but it happens)Usually this manager is one who has never actually been been on a rig, let alone worked on one. The workers are concerned, but when you're getting pressured from higher ups, in this economy, you do what they tell you to do, so you keep your job, and pray everything works out. It didn't in this case. I hope a shitload of workers come out against BP AND Transocean.

[Robbien]

7. "Accidents" happens to BP all the time

They've had almost 700 OSHA incidents while Exxon has had one.

They don't have safety procedures because it is just cheaper to bribe the regulators and walk away from their messes.

[hedgehog]

6. This is a case where a strong union could have made a huge difference -

if the workers who knew the situation was unsafe could have stopped before the accident without fear of losing their jobs, we wouldn't be mopping up now.

It's not a perfect solution; oftentimes "safety" concerns are used to create a slow-down in response to a situation that doesn't involve safety. It doesn't work if the people doing the job don't understand what's safe and what's not. Still, if anyone had been in a position to provide a little push-back to BP's efforts to speed things up......

[alp227]

8. BP knew he'd be a rat, so BP neglected him.

This oil spill is getting more disgusting by the day.

[Shining Jack]

9. Another case of cassandra syndrome.

It's easy for me to say but maybe he should have gone to the Media.Isn't there a law protecting whistleblowers ?

[Robbien]

14. Media?

That same media which has been kissing BP's butt and carrying its water?

Protect whistleblowers? Whistleblowers are fired and vilified. That's SOP these days.

[pattmarty]

21. Yeah, but it's just not enforced.

[valerief]

38. Law shmaw. Just look at the Supreme Court. Laws are for lip service in this country.

Laws and regulations are made to be broken, thanks to our Congresshos.

[Overseas]

10. K&R ! //nt

[MetaTrope]

11. Shades of John O'Neill

Anyone remember the FBI assistant director who, frustrated by Bush admin stonewalling of his attempts to investigate al-Qaeda, went to work as head of security for the World Trade Center in August 2001?

[subsuelo]

13. Yep. n/t

[Peace Patriot]

33. Yes, it's one of the strangest 9/11 stories, a very strange event.

O'Neill was following the Al Q money trail in Yemen. He got pulled off that investigation and railroaded out of the FBI in a very strange way. He was at a meeting of FBI agents. Someone stole his briefcase off a chair. He was then forced to resign for this "breach of security." He accepted a private security job at the World Trade Center and started work THAT WEEK. He apparently died on 9/11. And everything he knew died with him.

You gotta wonder about these coincidences. The FBI's top Al Q investigator pulled off the job, just before 9/11. He self-assigns to the WTC that very week and is apparently inside the WTC and dies when the planes hit and three skyscrapers collapse into their footprints, and, meanwhile, NORAD and the USAF have forgotten all standard operating procedures and don't even act to defend our nation's capitol and can't even defend the Pentagon and don't even try.

One hopes, with a man like John O'Neill, that he left a CD in a safe deposit box somewhere. Or that he got out and is in hiding. And one can certainly imagine some "thriller" type scenario whereby he discovers the explosives in the building and tries to stop it. His story is THAT wild. It is just too coincidencey.

[felinetta]

12. And yet Cheney, BP et al stay cold and soulless.No humanity in any of them. None.

[Omaha Steve]

16. Millions wish he had blown a whistle

But who would have listened?

K&R!

[Capitalocracy]

20. Nothing would've changed

Although I do agree with you. Maybe if they fired him for whistleblowing, he'd still be alive.

[skeptical cynic]

17. This is a commonplace

Oil companies will play one contractor against another, putting pressure on them to cut costs. The cost cutting is routinely in safety and environmental protection. It's standard practice for contractors cut corners for the client.

Whistleblowers do have protection under the law when they engage in "protected activity" (e.g. filing an OSHA complaint), but those cases drag out for years under appeal, and the employee is unemployable as a consequence. If they lose the case and can't recover lost wages, they are beyond financially ruined.

In this case it appears that the regulatory agencies overseeing offshore drilling were completely in bed with the industry they regulate.

[patrice]

18. .

:cry:

[Capitalocracy]

19. In local news here in Argentina,

a clandestine sweatshop employing people for less than the minimum wage including children was closed down by police. The sweatshop workers clashed with police in an attempt to save their jobs.

The owner must have been so proud.:shrug:

[femrap]

22. I hope BP management

pays dearly....both in $$$ and in time....time in jail.

[orbitalman]

23. Words of wrath escape me right now, but all I can say is

Holy Shit.

[scentopine]

24. Jesus - and many centrists on DU argue that BP is best management team for handling oil leak....

just like they argue we had no other option but to spend more fucking money slaughtering people in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Centrists - they worst of neo-con, the worst of neo-lib in one wholesome easy to swallow package. The politically correct right wing.

[Lindsey]

25. I seriously can't understand what's happening in the world...

These BP managers should be in jail for murder. I just don't understand. I really, really don't.

[liberation]

28. And if they ever face any prosecution, it will be either line workers or low management who will see

actual real time. Same as it ever was...

[LarryNM]

26. In Order for its Workers to have the Necessities of Life An Unjust Nation

makes the workers choose between a job and doing what is right.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

30. Capitalism is looking worse by the minute.

[glitch]

34. Outrageous that his own company Transocean couldn't do anything about it.

Or if he didn't report it to them -- if he felt he couldn't.

[dixiegrrrrl]

35. Do you think BP and the other companies have dead peasant insurance?

[joanmj]

37. sad!

[benld74]

39. Soldiers who fight/die during combat probably feel the same way,,,

My family told me when my father came back from WWII he was different, he changed. It is because they see what is happening, and have no mechanism to stop it. They can only pray and do what they can in case the unspeakable happens.
But our government has told us that they died protecting our freedom, and we salute and drop tears for them. BUT IF the war was NEVER fought, they would still be here. IF the OIL was NEVER drilled for the 11 would still be here. But BP will never acknowledge their workers' sacrifice as they are working to maximize their shareholders value,,,