OSHA Inspection: GREY WOLF DRILLING COMPANY L.P. RIG 517

Issued

Jan 9, 2004

Abate by

Feb 5, 2004

Penalty

Initial $7,000

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 a struck by hazards due to:
a.Failure to install keeper pins/wired in the ears of crowfoot connections
of
compressed air flexible rubber hoses to prevent them from unintentional
parting:
above the air compressor in the Electrical Generating Shed and at the
Peanut
Pump under the Vee door chute in front of the Blowout Preventers.
b.Failure to secure pressurized lines to prevent displacement.
c.Failure to maintain the rig in safe operating condition.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
these
hazards would be to:
a.Require that keeper pins/wire be installed in each ear of the crowfoot
connection
prior to use per manufacturer recommendations.
b.Require that all pressurized lines be secured to an adequate anchorage
point with
safety chains and hooks as referenced in International Association of
Drilling
Contractor's Accident Prevention Reference Guide.
c.Implement a preventative maintenance program that would include
inspections of
critical parts, such as but not limited to the derrick, mast, rotary hose,
safety
relief valves and piping subject to pressurization, before equipment is
placed back
into service after storage or movement and periodically during usage as
referenced in American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 54, 1999.