OSHA Inspection: PATTERSON DRILLING COMPANY LP

Issued

Oct 5, 2001

Abate by

Nov 7, 2001

Penalty

Initial $25,000 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
A.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.  Employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck
by manual
tongs at the Wolfe Guinn Renfro #4 Drilling Site, off of County Road 4461
near Boyd,
TX as a result of using a Woolley Super "B" Rotary Tong which had been
fitted with a
bolt not complying with the manufacturer's specification.  An ASTM A307
bolt (0.5 inch
x 4.0 inch approximate measurements) was installed on the lever of the
tong to secure
the tong line pin where a 0.75 inch x 4 inch, Grade 5 screw bolt was
specified.  One
feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to (1)
Use parts which
comply with the manufacturing specifications when repairing tongs, and,
(2) Train
employees who use tongs to recognize the importance of using correct parts
and to
promptly report the need for repairs.
B.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.  Employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck
by a Woolley
Super "B" Rotary Tong at the Wolfe Guinn Renfro #4 Drilling Site, off of
County Road
4461 near Boyd, TX as a result of the work practice of using the breakout
tong and
rotary power to accomplish the initial breakout of tool joints.  Among
other methods, one
feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to (1)
Use both sets
of tongs when drill string tool-joint connections are initially broken
out, and, (2) Ensure
employees are clear of the tongs before they are heavily torqued during
both "making up
and "breaking out" activities.