OSHA Inspection: GULF SOUTH DRILLING LLC

Issued

Feb 27, 2001

Abate by

Mar 2, 2001

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

General-duty citation text

a)  Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
The employer did
not furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was free
from
recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious
physical harm
to employees in that employees were exposed to the recognized hazard of
being struck
by a falling mast or striking the ground when the mast fell while an
employee was up in
the mast.  On December 9, 2000, the mast of Gulf South Drilling Rig Number
5 fell to
the ground with an employee in the top of the mast. The mast was not
rigged up in a safe
manner because the mast was not bolted to the "A" Frame.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct the
hazard is to have all derrickmen, drillers, and toolpushers to inspect the
lock-in bolts to
insure that they were installed correctly and to sign the rig report that
they had made the
inspection.  American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 54,
Occupational
Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, states in
paragraph 5.3.2
"Well operations involving the rig shall not be commenced until rig is
rigged up in a safe
manner."
DISCLAIMERS:
1)  You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2)  The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all
cases.
3)  The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate method.