Legislation that requires personal locator beacons on life jackets of offshore workers being transported offshore by aircraft was approved by the House Commerce Committee. Jennings Representative Troy Romero says his bill was designed to help a family in his district who lost a son after a helicopter crash in 2008.
“Jacob Mott was in a helicopter crash in the Gulf. His body washed up in Galveston five days later. The autopsy showed he was probably alive for some time in the Gulf but they couldn’t find him because there were no locator devices.”
The requirement for personal beacons was supposed to be part of earlier legislation known as “Jacob’s Law,” but was amended out because it was too expensive. Romero says prices have come down and the devices are now around $200.
“Today I’m only putting this back in. It’s been vetted by the industry. The cost is low enough now that they’re in support and I’m asking that these devices be put on each and every life jacket that carries people by aircraft to and from the oil location.”
New Orleans Representative Candace Newell believes cost should not impede progress on offshore worker safety and says the legislature should move forward with keeping offshore workers safe.
“The cost should not prevent us from protecting the lives of our citizens and this is more than a passionate bill.”
Romero’s bill now heads to the house floor.
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