Angola platform fire: Chevron warned staff of rising near-misses before Angola incident

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth warned employees of increasing safety incidents weeks before three workers died in a platform fire off Angola’s coast.

According to Reuters, Wirth issued the warning in an internal video on 29 April, stating that the number of near-misses had risen and some could have been fatal.

The company confirmed the fire occurred on 20 May on a deepwater platform around 60 miles off the Angolan coast.

The incident resulted in three deaths and 15 injuries.

Wirth’s earlier message, titled do it safely or not at all, told employees that safety must remain a priority despite internal restructuring and external pressures.

Internal video highlighted staff reluctance to report concerns

In the April video, Wirth told employees to continue reporting hazards even during periods of uncertainty.

Wirth said: “We’ve seen a concerning increase in serious near-misses, especially over the last few weeks.”

He added: “Some of these events could have resulted in fatalities.”

He acknowledged that some employees were hesitant to stop work or raise safety concerns due to the current work environment.

Wirth said: “I know there’s a lot going on right now, with changes underway both inside the company and in the world around us.”

He added: “I learned some people feel that speaking up and stopping work is risky in the current environment. It is not.”

Chevron confirmed that its top priority remained preventing fatalities and serious incidents.

A company spokesperson said: “Preventing fatalities and serious incidents is our top priority.”

Angola fire resulted in deaths and injuries

On 20 May, a fire broke out on a Chevron-operated platform located 60 miles off Angola’s coastline.

According to Reuters, three workers died and another 15 were injured.

Chevron’s 2024 sustainability report recorded 12 serious injuries and one fatality during the previous year.

Clay Neff, Chevron’s president of upstream, told staff in a 30 May video that some of the injured workers were still receiving treatment.

Neff added that an investigation into the cause of the fire was ongoing and more information was expected in the coming weeks.

Chevron said the company had since conducted safety stand-downs across its operations.

Safety stand-downs conducted in response

Following the Angola incident, Chevron initiated company-wide safety discussions.

Wirth said these stand-downs were used to pause work and focus on safety communication.

Vice President of Health, Safety and Environment, Marissa Badenhorst, said in an interview with Reuters: “We prioritize safety above production, and we show it through actually stopping production, and have the time to talk to folks and hear from them as well.”

She added: “We hear what is getting in their way, what they’re concerned about … and then we learn and we start work back up.”

The company said these measures aimed to understand workforce concerns and improve processes accordingly.

Chevron leaders reiterate risk awareness message

In his 30 May address, Neff reiterated Wirth’s earlier safety concerns.

Neff said that recent incidents across the business involved basic daily tasks and highlighted potential risks.

He said: “These were close calls where seconds or feet could have changed everything and they are stark reminders no one is immune.”

Neff called on employees to be aware of risks and ensure proper planning.

He said: “Nothing matters more than everyone going home safe.”

Chevron said it would continue investigating the Angola incident and monitoring safety practices.

Chevron stresses safety after Angola platform fire: Summary

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth warned employees of increasing near-miss incidents in April 2025.

Reuters reported that this message came weeks before a fatal fire on a Chevron-operated platform off the coast of Angola.

The fire on 20 May 2025 killed three workers and injured 15 others.

Chevron confirmed the incident occurred 60 miles offshore.

The company said some of the injured workers were still being treated.

Chevron President of Upstream Clay Neff said an investigation was ongoing.

The firm recorded 12 serious injuries and one fatality in 2024.

Wirth’s video urged employees to continue prioritising safety and speaking up.

Chevron held safety stand-downs across its operations following the incident.

Chevron Vice President Marissa Badenhorst said the company paused production to focus on safety discussions.

Neff later told staff that many recent incidents involved routine tasks.

He said these close calls were reminders of the need for vigilance.

Chevron said it remains focused on understanding the causes of the Angola incident.

The company said it will continue efforts to reinforce safety standards.