FINANCIAL TIMES: Shell fined after oil workers' deaths: “Speaking outside court, Greg Hill, production director for Shell Exploration and Production in Europe, said: "It is clear that we had failures in our systems and we feel 100 per cent responsible for the deaths of these men." (ShellNews.net) 28 April 05

By Bob Sherwood

Published: April 28 2005

Shell, the oil group, was fined £900,000 in a Scottish court yesterday for a "substantial catalogue of failures" that led to the deaths of two workers on an offshore platform.

Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue died after being exposed to up to 2.5 tonnes of hydrocarbon vapour which turned into gas on the Shell Expro Brent Bravo installation in the North Sea in September 2003.

At Stonehaven Sheriff Court, Sheriff Patrick Davies said he hoped the size of the fine would act as a warning to other large companies when considering health and safety regulations.

Shell had admitted three health and safety breaches including failing to carry out a risk assessment on the platform and inadequate maintenance.

Speaking outside court, Greg Hill, production director for Shell Exploration and Production in Europe, said: "It is clear that we had failures in our systems and we feel 100 per cent responsible for the deaths of these men."

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