Radioactive device put oil rig crew in danger

A leading oil services company has been fined £300,000 after losing radioactive material on a North Sea rig for four hours – with potentially devastating consequences for workers on board.

Schlumberger Oilfield UK admitted breaching health and safety legislation following an incident on the Ensco 101 mobile drilling rig in April, 2008.

Last night safety bosses said the incident could have caused serious injury to the 14 workers on board and that anyone who touched the material – even for a few minutes – faced an increased risk of getting cancer.

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