OSHA Inspection: SHAMROCK DRILLING COMPANY, INC

Issued

Mar 30, 2005

Abate by

Apr 5, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,500

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:
a)  For the period of time up to and including 08 Dec 04, The employer did
not always
assure that the rig was rigged up in a safe manner prior to the
commencement of well
operations.  Drilling operations had begun without the proper number of
guywires
attached and secured to anchors.  This condition allowed for the two (2)
guywires that
were installed to be pulled from the ground, becoming de-tensioned, which
allowed for
the derrick to move noticeably when changing out bit(tripping in/out of
the hole.  The
condition exposed employees to the hazards associated with a
collapsing/failure of derrick
rig #1.
American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice RP54 Paragraph 6.3.2
states that
"Well operations involving the rig shall not be commenced until the rig is
rigged up in
a safe manner."
Among other means, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this
hazard would be
to install the correct number of guywires in accordance with the
manufacturers
recommendations or install guywires in accordance with the minimum
requirements as
set forth in American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice API RP 4G
Second
Edition dated Oct 1998 Paragraphs 6.1-8 and appendix A Fig A-1.6.
DISCLAIMER:
1) You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases.
3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate method.iate

Issued

Mar 30, 2005

Abate by

Apr 5, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,500

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:
a)  For the period of time up to and including 08 Dec 04, the employer did
not always
assure that the drilling rig was rigged up in a safe manner during well
drilling operations.
Well drilling operations had commence without the required placing of a
visible marker
on each guywire.  This condition allowed a derrick rig to move noticeably
when tripping
out of the hole and a truck snagged the guywire.  This condition exposed
the employees
at the site to the hazards associated with a collapsed rig.
According to American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice RP54
Paragraph
6.3.2
states that: "Well Operations involving the rig shall not be commenced
until the rig is
rigged up in a safe manner."
According to American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice RP4G
Paragraph
14.5.f states that: "The rig contractor shall be responsible for Placing a
visible marker
on each guywire."
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard would be to adhere to the recommendation set forth in American
Petroleum
Institute Recommended Practice RP4G Paragraph 14.5.f) PLACING A VISIBLE
MARKER ON EACH GUYWIRE.
DISCLAIMER:
1) You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases.
3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate
method.