OSHA Inspection: QUALITY CONTROLS & EQUIPMENT INC RIG NUMBER 5

Issued

May 17, 2000

Abate by

May 21, 2000

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 a fire and explosion:
Employee was exposed to the hazard of fire and explosion due to the
failure to
erect a Geronimo Emergency Escape Line with a properly installed Geronimo
Emergency Escape Device at Rig Number 5:
This occurred on or about November 17, 1999 on Quality Controls &
Equipment, Inc., Rig Number 5.  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 in Section 5, Sub-Section 5.7, Paragraph
5.7.1 of American Petroleum Institute (API) RP54-92, page number 12.
Essential elements of this procedure would include:
1.Staking out a securely anchored one-half 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.
2.The escape line route is to be kept clear of obstructions.
3.A safety device is to be provided to permit fast emergency exit from
the Derrickman's working platform to a safe place.
4.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.
5.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.

Issued

May 17, 2000

Abate by

May 21, 2000

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 a fire and explosion hazard:
Employees were exposed to the hazard of fire and explosion resulting from
an
unknown quantity of flammable gas.  The bleed off valve for the annulus of
Section "A" (Bradenhead) had not been opened to assure there was no
accumulation of natural gas in the surface casing; nor had the employer
circulated
the well, bottoms up, prior to beginning well servicing operations.  One
feasible
and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct the hazards is to
assure that the well shall be checked for pressure and if pressure is
indicated, the
operator's authorized person should be notified; then proper steps should
be taken
to remove pressure or to operate safely under pressure before commencing
operations such as specified by API RP 54-92, Section 5, Sub-Section 5.3,
Paragraph Number 5.3.4, page number 10.  This alleged condition occurred on
or about November 17, 1999.

Issued

May 17, 2000

Abate by

May 21, 2000

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 a collapse of the mast (derrick) hazard:
The hazard of collapse of the mast (derrick) of a well service rig
resulting from
failure to install guyline anchors at the front of the Rig Number 5
carrier and for
not securing the two (2) front guylines from the crown of the derrick, in
that the
employer did not follow the Manufacturer's Recommended Specifications for
the
safe guying of the mast (derrick) to ensure adequate anchorage.
This occurred on or about November 17, 1999 on Quality Controls &
Equipment,
Inc., Rig Number 5.  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable
abatement method to correct this hazard would be installation of hand
screwed in
auger anchors into the soil according the Manufacturer's Recommended
Specifications with wire rope guylines properly secured to the raised
portion of
the auger anchor and correctly placed Crosby clips properly secured to the
ends
of the wire rope guylines.

Issued

May 17, 2000

Abate by

May 21, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,500

Issued

May 17, 2000

Abate by

Jun 4, 2000

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $450