Oxygen near-miss
- Safety Flash
- Published on 1 January 2004
- Generated on 15 February 2026
- IMCA SF 01/04
- 2 minute read
A Member reports the following near miss whereby a worker was observed blowing oxygen into the welding hood of a co worker who was welding on a pipe. This was stopped immediately.
What happened?
All three occupants of the tented area where work was taking place were interviewed and stated that the welder’s hood was ‘fogging up’ and that the oxygen was being used to keep the lens clear. It was then explained to them that the potential existed for a flash fire in the welder’s clothes, under his hood and in his lungs as a result of the high concentration of oxygen in those areas.
The company involved has taken the following actions:
- Immediate stoppage of work.
- Instructions to the prime contractor to conduct a safety ‘stand down’ with its sub-contractor immediately and with its own key personnel when they returned to work the following Monday.
- Inclusion of this subject matter in site-specific training for all newly employed workers on the project.
- Instructions to other sub-contractors doing similar work to have safety ‘stand downs’ to get this important message across.
The company notes that although oxygen in normal concentrations is necessary to sustain life, it can also be potentially hazardous in concentrations above normal breathing amounts or in conditions where high levels of heat or a major ignition source are present.
The company has restated the importance making clear potential hazards at each worksite through training and familiarisation and noted the danger of assuming awareness of ‘obvious’ hazards.
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.