Kelley Key Everette v. Alyeska Pipeline

BURKE, Justice. OPINION. These cases involve workers who were injured during the course of their employment during the construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline. The workers have sued Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. to recover for their injuries. Alyeska was the agent for the oil companies which own the permit authorizing construction of the pipeline. Alyeska, however, did not engage in any construction activity. Instead, it contracted with numerous "execution contractors" to do the actual work. These execution contractors were the direct employers of the injured workers. The contracts between Alyeska and the execution contractors provided that Alyeska would obtain workers compensation coverage for the in-state employees of the different contractors. With one exception this blanket policy has compensated the injured workers.