Got into it with a welder about hot tapping on a 30-inch line off Louisiana

I was reading through some old ADC reports and found a stat that said over 60% of offshore diving accidents happen during hot tap operations. The welder on my last job argued that his side carries more risk because of the pressure and heat, but I think the diver actually has it worse being right there in the water with zero escape route. What do you guys think, who has the more dangerous job in a hot tap scenario?

3 comments

3 Comments

mila_perry131mo ago

Used to think the welder had it worse until I saw a video of a diver getting pinned by a shifting pipe. That changed my mind real quick - being trapped underwater with no way out beats heat any day, right?

johnson.jesse9d ago

Doesn't the backup line just give you something else to get tangled in?

julia_patel1mo ago

Just clip a secondary line to something solid before you shift position. That way if the pipe moves, you've got a backup holding you in place. Learned that after getting snagged once, never again.