OSHA Inspection: JOE'S CASING & DRILLING, INC.

Issued

Jun 17, 1998

Abate by

Mar 19, 1999

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

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)  On or about January 3, 1998, at an oil well location approximately
eight miles
southwest of Tioga, North Dakota, employees of Joe's Casing & Drilling,
Inc. who
were working on the floor of a drilling rig were exposed to the hazard of
being struck
by materials and equipment falling from overhead.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
this
hazard would be:
1.  Ensure a safety procedure to remove workers from the hazard by
requiring that
workers leave the immediate rig floor and go to designated protected areas
during
all
overhead operations.
2.  Incorporate this procedure for leaving the rig floor during overhead
operations
into employee training and into the written safety program.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (see
enclosed "Sample Abatement Certification Letter").tion