Fatal Fall on the Valaris 121: How ISO 45001 Could Help Prevent Offshore Tragedies

In November 2025, the UK health and safety community was once again shaken by a tragic workplace fatality on an offshore rig. A 32‑year‑old worker, Lee Hulse, lost his life after falling from a crane aboard the Valaris 121 jackup rig while it was working at the Shearwater platform in the North Sea.

The incident occurred in the early hours of 14 November and has prompted an ongoing investigation by the UK Health and Safety Executive and Police Scotland.

The Valaris 121 - operated by global drilling contractor Valaris and working for Shell on one of its offshore assets - immediately halted operations and extended condolences to the family. Shell noted it was providing support to the rig’s operator, while authorities confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious.

This is not the first fatality to occur aboard the Valaris 121, and it tragically underscores how falls from height and dropped objects continue to be among the leading causes of workplace deaths in the UK and offshore sectors. According to the latest provisional RIDDOR statistics, over 120 workers were killed in work‑related accidents in Great Britain in 2024/25, with falls from height accounting for a significant proportion of these fatal incidents.

For organisations operating in high‑risk environments - offshore energy, construction, logistics, heavy manufacturing - one fatality is one too many. That’s where ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems comes into focus. Unlike reactive safety policies, ISO 45001 provides a structured, proactive framework designed to anticipate, prevent, and manage hazards that can lead to injuries and fatalities.

Looking Beyond Compliance: What Went Wrong

Whilst investigations into the Valaris 121 fall are ongoing, falls from height in offshore and industrial settings typically result from a combination of factors: inadequate fall protection, poor task planning, unclear responsibilities, lack of supervision, and insufficient worker engagement in hazard identification. In this case, early reports suggest the fall occurred in the vicinity of a crane - a mobile heavy load often operating in shifting sea states and challenging conditions - highlighting how dynamic, unstable work environments multiply risk.

Statistics on work‑related fatalities highlight that falls and dropped objects remain prominent risks. Over the long term, falls from height consistently feature as one of the most common fatal accident kinds in workplace injury statistics - particularly in construction, offshore sectors, and other industrial environments where elevation and heavy equipment are routine.

How ISO 45001 Could Have Made a Difference

ISO 45001 goes beyond ticking boxes - it gives organisations a systematic, scalable way to identify and manage risk at every level of operation. Here’s how adopting ISO 45001 could help prevent incidents like the Valaris 121 fall:

1. Leadership and Worker Involvement (Clause 5)

ISO 45001 requires strong leadership commitment and active involvement of workers in safety processes. In high‑risk operations like offshore drilling, this means leadership doesn’t just set policies but empowers workers to report hazards and halt operations if they believe a task is unsafe - without fear of reprisal.

2. Risk Identification and Planning (Clause 6)

A mature ISO 45001 system mandates comprehensive risk assessments that consider worst‑case scenarios - including falls from height and equipment interaction. Offshore rig work isn’t static: weather conditions, shifting loads, moving parts and personnel changes all need to be planned for, with controls built in to mitigate those risks.

3. Operational Control (Clause 8)

ISO 45001 emphasises documented procedures and controls for high‑risk tasks. For crane operations offshore, this may include fall‑arrest systems, exclusion zones, pre‑lift safety briefings, dynamic risk assessments at shift handovers, and documented crew competency checks. All personnel should be trained in these procedures and their application verified.

4. Performance Monitoring (Clause 9)

Regular audits, observation checks, near‑miss reporting and incident trend analysis enable early identification of deteriorating conditions. For example, if near‑misses around crane operations are climbing, a robust ISO 45001 system would flag this as a sign to pause and reassess.

5. Corrective Action and Continual Improvement (Clause 10)

If a safety issue is identified - such as unsafe access to crane work areas or unclear communication protocols - ISO 45001 requires investigation to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. This ensures that conditions leading to one incident are addressed organisationally, not just locally.

A Stronger Future Starts With Systems That Learn

The death of Lee Hulse on the Valaris 121 is a stark reminder that even the most experienced workers are vulnerable when systems fail. Regulatory enforcement, training, and personal protective equipment are all essential - but without an integrated Management System like ISO 45001, organisations miss the opportunity to systematically predict and prevent hazards.

ISO 45001 is not just about reducing fine risk or meeting compliance. It’s about creating a workplace culture where safety is embedded, continuously evaluated and valued by every level of the organisation.

In an era when one slip, fall, or misaligned procedure can mean loss of life, businesses must step up beyond compliance - towards structured safety excellence. ISO 45001 provides that path.

Learn how AAA Certification Ltd can support you in achieving ISO 45001:2018. Sign up to a Certification Audit with AAA and take the first step towards achieving ISO 45001 certification.