OSHA Inspection: QUESTOR DRILLING CORP. RIG #7

Issued

Mar 30, 1993

Abate by

Apr 2, 1993

Penalty

Initial $3,500

General-duty citation text

The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA;
the methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases;
and the employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
effective
abatement method.
Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which
were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were
exposed to:
Employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by the
rotary hose swivel due to failure to maintain the derrick
mast, rotary hose swivel and their auxiliary parts in safe
condition as specified by API RP 54 First Edition January
1981, page 15, Section 8, paragraph 8.2.1
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement
method to correct this hazard is to implement a Maintenance
and Inspection Program as addressed in the International
Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) Drilling Manual,
Section H4, page 1 Rotary Hose and Swivels Inspection which
states "All hoisting tools on the rotary drilling rig must
have daily inspections followed by monthly and quarterly (more
frequent if severe operating conditions or loading is imposed)
shutdown inspections.  This alleged condition occurred on or
about November 5, 1992.