Got a wild decompression hit off the coast of Louisiana last month and it changed my whole safety routine

I was working a 60-foot repair job on a platform support leg near Grand Isle. We had a quick surface interval, but I got called back down for an extra 20 minutes on something the topside crew missed. I pushed through a mild headache until I surfaced and felt the joint pain start in my elbow. Took me 2 hours in the chamber to get right, and now I triple-check my tables even on short jobs. Anyone else had a close call like that change how you handle unexpected overtime?

2 comments

2 Comments

terry_bailey3527d ago

Yeah pushing through a mild headache is exactly how I've seen guys get burned." Read a study a while back that said even short second dives mess with your nitrogen load more than most people think. Your story hits hard man, glad you walked away from it okay.

margaretrivera27d ago

You said it man, "even short second dives mess with your nitrogen load" is the part that gets me... I used to think if my tables were good and I felt fine, I was safe. That elbow pain hit so fast after I got up top, it scared me straight. I think a lot of guys hear that and just nod along until it happens to them. Now I won't go back down without a full hour at least, no matter what the topside crew says. It's crazy how one bad afternoon can rewrite everything you thought you knew.