OSHA Inspection: NABORS DRILLING USA, INC. RIG #424

Issued

Sep 30, 1998

Abate by

Oct 4, 1998

Penalty

Initial $5,000

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 fire and explosion:
Employee was exposed to the hazard of fire and explosion due to the
failure to
erect a properly installed Geronimo emergency escape line which did not lay
across the top guardrail of the employee access to the pipe racking board
and
Geronimo emergency escape device which prevented the employee from being
able to stand in an upright position in order to get onto the Geronimo
emergency
escape device prior to descending to ground level.  This occurred on or
about
April 29, 1998 at Rig Number 424 which was located and being operated five
(5)
miles North of Three Rivers, Texas on IH 37, Three Rivers, Texas 77081.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard would be installation of a properly rigged and secured
emergency
descent or other satisfactory auxiliary means of egress, such as specified
on page
12 in Section 5, Sub-Section 5.7, Paragraph 5.7.1 of American Petroleum
Institute (API) RP 54-92.  Essential elements of this procedure would
include:
a.Installation of a securely anchored one-half (1/2) inch wire rope escape
line attached to the derrick or mast so as to provide a ready and
convenient means of escape from the derrickman's working platform.
b.The escape line route is to be kept clear of obstructions.
c.A safety device is to be provided to permit fast emergency exit from the
derrickman's working platform to a safe place.
d.The tension on the escape line is to be periodically checked and adjusted
to assure a safe landing and to allow the derrickman to stop twenty (20)
to twenty-five (25) feet from the anchor point.
e.The ground anchor point of the escape line is to be located a minimum
lateral distance from the derrick or mast equal to the height above ground
level to the point where the escape line is fastened to the derrick or
mast.
*** Certification and Documentation of Abatement required ***uired