The UK’s offshore safety regulator has concluded that the death of a worker on the Valaris 121 jackup rig in the North Sea last November was due to the removal of a floor grating for cleaning purposes. The incident occurred on November 14, 2025, while the rig was positioned off Aberdeen. During cleaning operations, personnel removed a grating from the cab of the port side aft crane, exposing a fragile floor that was not replaced. This oversight led to the tragic accident when worker Lee Hulse stepped onto the unprotected area and fell more than 80 feet to his death.
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has cited Valaris for failing to adequately assess the risks associated with the cleaning activity. While this notice adds clarity to the circumstances of the incident, the broader investigation by HSE remains ongoing. Hulse, a 32-year-old father from Aberdeen, is remembered as a dedicated family man.
This incident marks the second time a missing deck grating has been linked to a fatality on the Valaris 121. In January 2023, worker Jason Thomas disappeared while the rig was being towed, and a subsequent inspection revealed a dislodged grating. Union officials had previously expressed concerns that the missing grating was connected to Thomas’s disappearance, underscoring ongoing safety issues aboard the rig.
