OSHA Inspection: DECATUR DRILLING COMPANY

Issued

Jan 18, 1990

Abate by

Feb 26, 1990

Penalty

Initial $180 · Current $180

General-duty citation text

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:
The hazards of being burned due to being trapped on the fingerbo-
ard on the drilling rig located at the Will number 1-32 wellsite,
located in Section 32, Township 9 North, Range 7 East Cumberland
County (near Neoga, Illinois), during a rig fire without having a
means of escape.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazaard is the installation of an emergency escape means
running from the fingerboard to a location remote from the wellhole and
the drilling floor following rigging up of the rig mast, as specified
by paragraph 4.7.1 of RP 54 Recommended Practices for Occupational
Safety and Health for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Opera-
tions.
DISCLAIMERS:
1. You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2. The methods explained are general and may not be effective in
all cases.
3. The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate abatement method.

Issued

Jan 18, 1990

Abate by

Feb 26, 1990

Penalty

Initial $210 · Current $210

General-duty citation text

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:
a. ..the hazards of being seriously injured due to being struck by the
hopper, piping and hoses of the hopper-type mud mixer attached to the
Oilwell mud pump serial number 214-P, attached to the number five
drilling rig located at the Will number 1-32 wellsite, located in
Section 32, Township 9 North, Range 7 East, Cumberland County (near
Neoga, IL).
b. ..the hazard of being seriously injured due to being struck by
flying drilling mud and its associated high pressure piping from
a failure in the connection between the mud pump supply hose and
the mud mixer nipple on the hopper-type mud mixer in use with the
Oilwell mud pump serial number 214-P in use with the drilling rig
located at the Will number 1-32 wellsite, located in Section 32,
Township 9 North, Range 7 East, Cumberland County (near Neoga,
IL).
c. ..the hazard of being seriously injured due to being struck by
flying drilling mud and its associated high pressure piping from
a failure in the connection between the mud pump nipple and the
flexible mud hose in the mud supply line running from the Oilwell
mud pump serial number 214-P to the drilling rig located at the
Will number 1-32 wellsite, located in Section 32, Township 9
North, Range 7 East, Cumberland County (near Neoga, Illinois).
d. ..the hazards of being seriously injured due to being struck by
flying drilling mud and its associated high pressure piping from
a failure in the connection between the flexible mud hose and the
rig supply pipe in the mud supply line running from the Oilwell
mud pump serial number 214-P to the drilling rig located at the
Will number 1-32 wellsite, located in Section 32, Township 9
North, Range 7 East, Cumberland County (near Neoga, IL).
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct
these hazards is:
Item a. To provide a means of securing the mixer and its associated
hoses and piping in place either by staking or by other
equivalent means, and to insure that such means are properly
installed following drilling rig setup before the mixer can
be placed into operation, as required under the provisions of
paragraphs 8.12.2 and 8.14.3 of API RP 54 Recommended Prac-
tices for Occupational Safety and Health for Oil and Gas Well
Drilling and Servicing Operations.
Item b. To provide of positive means of securing the ends of all
flexible mudline connections with a safety chain or wire rope
during drilling operations, as required by paragraph 8.14.3
of RP 54 Recommeded Practices for Occupational Safety and
Health for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Opera-
tions, and to insure that such means are properly installed
following drilling rig setup and before the mud mixer is
placed with operation.
Item c. To provide a means of securing the ends of all flexible
mudline connections with a safety chain or wire rope during
drilling operations, as required by paragraph 8.14.3 of RP 54
Recommended Practices for Occupational Safety and Health for
Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, and to
insure that such means are properly installed following
drilling rig setup and before the mud pump is placed into
operation.
Item d. To provide a means of securing the ends of all flexible
mudline connections with a safety chain or wire rope during
drilling operations, as required by paragraph 8.14.3 of RP 54
Recommended Practices for Occupational Safety and Health for
Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, and to
insure that such means are properly installed following
drilling rig setup and before the mud pump is placed into
operation.
DISCLAIMERS:
1. You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2. The methods explained are general and may not be effective in
all cases.
3. The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate abatement method.

Issued

Jan 18, 1990

Abate by

Feb 26, 1990

Penalty

Initial $180 · Current $180

Issued

Jan 18, 1990

Abate by

Feb 26, 1990

Penalty

Initial $150 · Current $150

Issued

Jan 18, 1990

Abate by

Jan 29, 1990

Penalty

Initial $210 · Current $210

Issued

Jan 18, 1990

Abate by

Jan 29, 1990

Issued

Jan 18, 1990

Abate by

Feb 26, 1990