Shell’s Prelude to Disaster: Workers Exposed to Toxic Gas, Regulator Issues Warning

Shell’s Prelude to Disaster: Workers Exposed to Toxic Gas, Regulator Issues Warning. Because What’s a Little Cancer When There’s Profit to Be Made? In Shell’s world, workers are expendable.

In a development that will shock absolutely no one familiar with Shell’s abysmal safety record, the Australian offshore regulator NOPSEMA has issued an improvement notice after workers aboard Shell’s troubled Prelude FLNG facility reported lung and eye problems from exposure to hazardous gas. Yes, the same Prelude facility that has been an over-budget, unreliable, and unsafe floating disaster since day one.

NOPSEMA’s notice calls on Shell to fix the problem (translation: stop poisoning your workers), after yet another hazardous gas leak was reported. But given Shell’s legendary track record of prioritizing profits over human lives, don’t hold your breath—unless, of course, you’re a Prelude worker, in which case holding your breath might be your only defense against cancer-causing fumes.

Shell: The Serial Offender of Offshore Safety

Of course, this is far from the first time Shell has played Russian roulette with worker safety. Let’s take a brief tour through some of their greatest hits in corporate negligence:

• North Sea Deathtrap – Shell has a horrific safety record in the North Sea, including using unseaworthy lifeboats that workers would be terrified to rely on in an emergency.
• TFA Policy: The “Tough Luck” Approach to Safety – Shell’s Touch F* All (TFA) policy** ensures that only the absolute bare minimum safety measures are taken, maximizing profits while workers gamble with their lives.
• Whistleblowers Ignored (Then Targeted) – Bill Campbell and Irina Woodhead were among those exposing the safety risks of Shell’s operations, yet Shell’s response was not to fix the problems—but to silence those who dared to speak out.

Prelude FLNG: The $17 Billion Floating Dumpster Fire

Prelude FLNG was supposed to be the jewel in Shell’s crown—a massive, floating gas processing facility that would revolutionize the industry. Instead, it’s been a rolling catastrophe that’s been shut down multiple times due to safety failures, gas leaks, and system malfunctions. Now, workers are being exposed to carcinogenic gases, but Shell is still trying to downplay the risks.

Because in Shell’s world, workers are expendable, but profits are sacred.

Shell’s Investors: Cashing In on Catastrophe

Let’s not forget that Shell’s biggest investors—like BlackRock and Vanguard—continue to rake in profits while workers suffer. They know exactly what’s happening, but as long as the dividends keep flowing, who cares if a few offshore workers inhale a little poison?

Shell’s Future: More Lies, More Leaks, More Excuses

Shell will undoubtedly try to spin this latest Prelude disaster as a minor issue, just like it always does. They’ll claim they’re “working with regulators,” they’ll promise “improvements,” and then they’ll go right back to cutting corners to boost profits.

So here’s the real question: How many more workers have to get sick before Shell is finally forced to clean up its act?

The world is watching, and Shell’s toxic legacy is getting harder and harder to hide.

OHS Improvement Notice: 4 February 2025

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