POEA suspends companies involved in oil platform accident

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has issued an order 

preventively suspending the companies involved in an oil rig explosion in the Gulf 

of Mexico last year, which claimed the lives of three Filipino workers and seriously 

injured three others. 

Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac ordered the preventive suspension of DNR 

Offshore and Crewing Services, Inc. -- the manning agency in the Philippines which 

deployed the oil platform workers -- pending investigation of the recruitment 

violation case filed against it. Also preventively suspended are three entities 

involved in employment of the workers and are subject of a docketed disciplinary 

action case -- Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations, D&R Resources, and Grand Isle 

Shipyard. 

The preventive suspensions pending investigation are based on express findings of 

the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) of the United States 

Department of Interior, as relayed by Labor Attache Luzviminda Padilla of the 

Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Washington, D.C. The BSEE reported 

that the explosion was primarily caused by the failure of Black Elk Energy Offshore 

Operations and all its contractors, including Grand Isle Shipyard, to adhere to 

established safety procedures in oil platform operations. 

The purpose of the preventive suspensions is to ensure that no further death, 

injury, abuse or exploitation of Filipino workers will occur. 

Cacdac said the manning agency, employers, and contractors have the obligation 

to provide workers with orientations on recruitment policies and procedures, and 

to ensure decent and safe employment and living conditions.