Norwegian National Oil Company Completes Investigation into Monstad Fatal Accident

Norwegian Petroleum has completed an internal investigation into the workplace accident at the Mongstad plant on September 17, 2025, which resulted in the death of a worker. The investigation aims to summarize lessons learned and identify measures to enhance crane and lifting operation safety across the company.

The incident occurred during maintenance shutdown when a heat exchanger was being lifted, and the crane hook accidentally caught a bolt on the heat exchanger.

A worker was trapped between two heat exchangers. Despite emergency rescue efforts, their life could not be saved. The incident has been reported to the police and the Petroleum Safety Authority, both of which are conducting their own investigations.

Eirin Rümelhof, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Midstream, and Processing at Norwegian Petroleum, said, “Losing a colleague is deeply saddening for all of us. I extend my sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and everyone affected. The ongoing investigation is crucial to determine the causes of this incident so we can learn from it and improve. We are currently taking all necessary measures to strengthen the safety of our crane and lifting operations.”

The investigation is led by an independent team from Norwegian Petroleum’s Audit and Investigation Department, including experts from Crane Norway and safety representatives, in accordance with the company’s procedures for investigating serious accidents. The team possesses expertise in crane and lifting operations, organizational safety, and has operational experience from the Mongstad plant.

Børnt Eddward Tiseland, Vice President of Mongstad, stated, “This incident has had a profound impact on all our employees at Mongstad. The investigation report not only identifies the immediate cause but also highlights several factors that may have contributed to the event. Based on the report’s recommendations, we have begun implementing measures to improve planning, execution, and management of lifting operations at the plant. We will work with industry partners to ensure everyone working at our facility receives more in-depth training and has a clearer understanding of the requirements for such operations.”

The worker who lost their life was employed by the staffing company Nidab and was assigned to work for Crane Norway, the provider of lifting services at the Mongstad plant.