OSHA Inspection: J. C. WELLS DRILLING CO.

Issued

Mar 6, 1996

Abate by

Mar 25, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,500

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:
Rig on the Dorward "B", #3:  The driller on the rig was helping to unload
drill collars from a
trailer/float onto the pipe racks.  The trailer/float was placed near the
pipe racks, where boards
were needed to facilitate the unloading.  The boards apparently broke and
the pipe rolled off
between the trailer/float and the pipe rack, striking the driller as he
stood on the east side of the
pipe racks. He fell and sustained fatal head injuries.  The employer did
not ensure that drill
collars being unloaded from a trailer/float would not accidentally roll
off between the trailer/float
and pipe rack.
One feasible and accepted method of abatement would be to situate the
trailer/float
closer to the
pipe racks so that if the bridging materials (boards, etc.) used to
facilitate unloading were to
give, the space between the trailer/float and pipe rack would not allow
the pipe or drill collars
to fall.rs