OSHA Inspection: JAMES DRILLING CO., INC.

Issued

2002-05-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2002-05-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1600.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 hazard of being caught by the rotating pipe
and slips on the
rotary table:
All of the following instances address issues concerning the hazard of
rotary rig personnel being
struck by or caught and wrapped around the rotating pipe equipment at the
rotary table during
drilling operations, particularly the task of pulling pipe out of the
ground and disconnecting pipe
joints.
a)The employer failed to ensure that the rotary rig operator did not
engage the
power to begin rotation until the rotary table was clear of all personnel,
in
accordance with section 9.8.1 of the American Petroleum Institute's
Recommended Practice 54 (Third Edition, August 1999) (API 54), and that the
rig personnel (employees) keep their feet away from the slip handles and
rotary
table when the rotary is in motion, in accordance with paragraph 3.2.D and
3.7.B
of the International Association of Drilling Contractors' (IADC) Accident
Prevention Reference Guide, Revised Edition, October 1989.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to provide enhanced training to the rotary rig operator and
to the
rig personnel (employees) working at or near the rotary table and monitor
the
affected employees to ensure they follow safe work practices and applicable
requirements.
b)The employer failed to ensure that the rotary rig personnel did not use
rotary
table power to accomplish initial breakout of tool (pipe) joints, in
accordance with
section 9.8.2 of API 54 and paragraph 3.6.H of the IADC Accident Prevention
Reference Guide.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to provide enhanced training and education to rotary rig
personnel
for proper and safe procedures to accomplish initial breakout of pipe
joints,
prohibit rig personnel from using the rotary to break pipe joints, and to
monitor
the affected employees to ensure they follow safe work practices and
applicable
requirements.
c)The employer failed to ensure that rig personnel wear tight fitting
clothing while
working at or near the rotary table, in accordance with section 5.2.5 of
API 54
and paragraph 4.6.A of the IADC Accident Prevention Reference Guide.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to prohibit employees from wearing loose fitting clothing
whileworking at or near the rotary table and monitor the affected
employees to ensure
they follow this requirement.
d) The employer failed to ensure that employees do not kick the slips into
place on
the rotary table, in accordance with section 9.9.3 of API 54 and paragraph
3.2.F
of IADC's Accident Prevention Reference Guide.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to provide enhanced training to rig personnel for the
proper and
safe handling of the slips, to prohibit employees from kicking the slips
into place
at the rotary table, and monitor the affected employees to ensure they
follow safe
work practices and this requirement.

Issued

2002-05-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2002-06-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $450.00 · Current $225.00 Reduced

Issued

2002-05-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2002-05-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1500.00 · Current $750.00 Reduced

Issued

2002-05-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2002-05-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $300.00 · Current $100.00 Reduced