OSHA Inspection: BAKER OIL TOOL CO.

Issued

Aug 25, 2005

Abate by

Sep 14, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,750

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 struck-by hazards and/or fire and explosion:
On or about March 2nd, 2005, employees of Baker-Hughes Oil Tool Company
were on site observing the installation of tubing into a well when the
well blew
out.
Some feasible methods of abatement include, but are not limited to:
a) Assure as far as possible that appropriate well control equipment and
procedures are in place and maintained as Baker Hughes activities are
conducted.
Such control procedures may include:
1) Assure that appropriated blow-out prevention devices have been
installed, inspected, and tested following guidance provided in
American Petroleum Institute's Recommended Practice 54, Section
6.4, dated 1999.
2) Conduct periodic drills on the appropriate activation of blow-out
prevention devices and other emergency procedures.
3) Assess the status of previously installed control devices, such as
but not limited to verifying the location/installation of packers,
prior to initiating additional well operations.
b) Control ignition sources near the well head and all other points where
flammable mixtures may be present.  Guidance can be found in the American
Petroleum Institute's Recommended Practice 54, 1999.
c) Develop and implement written procedures ensuring communication between
Baker Hughes personnel and other employers/business entities at well sites
so that
Baker Hughes is very familiar with the types and limits of control devices
present
and emergency procedures employed by others at the site.