Rig culture ‘factor in BP spill’

22 April 2011
Last updated at 18:20 ET

Deepwater Horizon owner Transocean was drilling an oil well for BP when the explosion occurred

A lax safety culture and poorly working kit aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig contributed to last year’s explosion, the US Coast Guard says.

In a report on the incident, which killed 11 and caused a massive spill, the agency criticised the practices and training of rig owner Transocean.

It said equipment was poorly maintained and alarms and automatic shutdown systems did not work properly.

A Transocean spokesman on Friday rejected the findings.

In a 288-page report released just over a year after the accident, the Coast Guard found actions by Transocean and the oil rig crew hindered their ability to prevent or contain the disaster.

“Deepwater Horizon and its owner, Transocean, had serious safety management system failures and a poor safety culture,” the report said.

“Collectively, this record raises serious questions whether Transocean’s safety culture was a factor that

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