OSHA Inspection: CAZA DRILLING

Issued

Mar 17, 2003

Abate by

Jan 15, 2004

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $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 fire and explosion hazards:
(a)  On Rig #48 located near Watford City in McKenzie County, North
Dakota, on or
about December 8, 2002, the employer did not initiate prompt and sufficient
procedures to control the entry of gas and oil into the well bore,
resulting in a fire on
the rig floor.
An acceptable and feasible means of abatement is to review, modify as
necessary, and
re-train employees in well control procedures including but not limited to
the
necessity of quickly, and without the approval of operator
representatives, initiating
established well control procedures whenever a good faith safety concern
exists as to
the presence of oil and gas kicks or potential blowouts.  In addition, the
employer
will review and modify as it deems necessary, the safety-related well
control
equipment on its oil and gas drilling rigs in the State of North Dakota.g