OSHA Inspection: SERVICE DRILLING SOUTHWEST LLC

Issued

May 15, 2001

Abate by

May 23, 2001

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 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 the condition(s) listed below:
Service Drilling Southwest LLC, located at Section 5, B5, B&B Survey,
Wheeler, County, Tx
79096. For the period of time up to and including March 14, 2001. Daily
inspections did not
identify that the wire rope line from the draw works to the tongs, was
improperly fastened to
the chain in that it was bent in a zero radius, thus causing early and
premature wear on the wire
rope. The rope in question had been broken approximately half-way through.
Subsequently, the
rope was cut and a "dog knot" was placed in it to hold it to the chain.
API recommended
practice 9B, section 2.60 states that a half hitch is not desirable as it
deforms and weakens the
wire rope. Wire rope users manual (3rd edition), Page 33 states that "
wire rope should not be
shortened, lengthened, or terminated by the use of a knot". When a wire
rope is bent at a zero
radius or a knot, it causes the outer layers to stretch resulting in
excessive load on them and at
the same time places compression on the inner layers, resulting in
premature failure. The failure
of this rope during use could result in an employee being struck by a
whipping piece of wire
rope.
One feasible method of abatement would be the following, however the
employer is responsible
for determining the most appropriate method, based on the employers
knowledge
of the
operation.
Place a socketed fitting on the end of the cable in such a manner not to
exceed the minimum
radius for that size wire rope.