OSHA Inspection: GENE D. YOST & SON, INC. RIG 236

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

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 and crushing hazards from an oil/gas rig(s) guy
wire that were not
erected and assembled ("rigged up") in accordance with  manufacturer
specifications and/or
industry standards:
a) Erie County, Union Township, PA - On or about June 23, 2008, and at
times prior
thereto, the Skytop/Brewster Rig #236 commenced well operations without
ensuring the
rig was erected and assembled ("rigged up") in a safe manner according to
manufacturer
specifications or industry standards as evidenced by the improper
erection, assembly, and
installation of guy wires, and anchors: Specifically, these conditions
existed on the
following components:
(1) Rear Crown Guy Wires - The two (2) rear crown guy wires had not been
attached and secured to ground anchors.
(2) Forward Crown Guy Wires - The two (2) forward crown guy wire ground
anchors (steel stakes) were pulled loose from the ground.
(3) Derrick Board Guy Wires - The two (2) derrick board guy wires were
attached to the pipe tubs approximately 25-feet from the center line.
ABATEMENT NOTE:
Among others, one feasible and useful abatement method to correct this
hazard is to:
(1) Follow the requirements of Skytop Rig Co. specification sheet (which
replicates the
posted placard mounted on the rig provided by the manufacturer) which
requires six (6)
guy wires from the derrick to be connected to ground anchors.
(2) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice 54
Paragraph
6.3.2 which states that "Well operations involving the rig shall not be
commenced until
the rig is rigged up in a safe manner."
(3) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice
Specification
4E Section 3.14 which specifies that the "user shall be responsible for
providing
anchorage capable of withstanding the maximum guy line loads."
(4) OSHA STD 03-12-003 Pub 8-1.8 Guidelines on the Stability of Well
Servicing
Derricks.

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

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 struck by and crushing hazards from oil/gas rig(s) that
was not erected and
assembled ("rigged up") in accordance with  manufacturer specifications
and/or industry
standards:
a) Erie County, Union Township, PA - On or about June 23, 2008, and at
times prior
thereto, the Skytop/Brewster Rig #236 commenced well operations without
ensuring the
rig was erected and assembled ("rigged up") in a safe manner according to
manufacturer
specifications or industry standards as evidenced by the improper
erection, assembly, and
installation of anchors: Specifically, these conditions existed on the
following
components:
(1) Anchors - The steel stake anchors were not installed according to any
written
instructions or pull tested to determined load capacity.
(2) Marking of Guy Wires - Visible markers were not placed on each guy wire
to prevent accidental contact and resulting physical damage from heavy
equipment
and vehicle traffic.
ABATEMENT NOTE:
Among others, one feasible and useful abatement method to correct this
hazard is to:
(1) Follow the requirements of Skytop Rig Co. specification sheet (which
replicates the
posted placard mounted on the rig provided by the manufacturer) which
requires six (6)
guy wires from the derrick to be connected to ground anchors.
(2) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice 54
Paragraph
6.3.2 which states that "Well operations involving the rig shall not be
commenced until
the rig is rigged up in a safe manner."
(3) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice
Specification
4E Section 3.14 which specifies that the "user shall be responsible for
providing
anchorage capable of withstanding the maximum guy line loads."
(4) OSHA STD 03-12-003 Pub 8-1.8 Guidelines on the Stability of Well
Servicing
Derricks.
(5) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practices 4G
Section
14.5f states "rig contractor shall be responsible for placing a visible
marker on each guy
wire".

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

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 struck by and crushing hazards from an oil/gas rig(s) that
was not erected and
assembled ("rigged up") in accordance with  manufacturer specifications
and/or industry
standards:
a) Erie County, Union Township, PA - On or about June 23, 2008, and at
times prior
thereto, the Skytop/Brewster Rig #236 commenced well operations without
ensuring the
rig was erected and assembled ("rigged up") in a safe manner according to
manufacturer
specifications or industry standards as evidenced by the improper
erection, assembly, and
installation of rigging equipment: Specifically, these conditions existed
on the following
components:
(1) Rigging Equipment --- Come-Alongs/Chain Around System - A "chain-
around" system did not bypass the come-alongs that were used to tension
the guy
wires. The come-alongs were designed to tension the guy wires and were not
designed/installed to transmit the load from the guy wires to the anchors.
(2) Rigging Equipment --- Thimbles for Guy Wires -  Thimbles were not used
on connection points with wire rope and steel chains to prevent crimping
and
crushing damage to the guy wire anchoring system.
ABATEMENT NOTE:
Among others, one feasible and useful abatement method to correct this
hazard
is to:
(1) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice 54
Paragraph
6.3.2 which states that "Well operations involving the rig shall not be
commenced until
the rig is rigged up in a safe manner."
(2) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice
Specification
4E Section 3.14 which specifies that the "user shall be responsible for
providing
anchorage capable of withstanding the maximum guy line loads."
(3) OSHA STD 03-12-003 Pub 8-1.8 Guidelines on the Stability of Well
Servicing
Derricks.
(4) J.E. Shaffer Co. "Come-Along" Hand Power Unit.
(5) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice 9B
Section
3.7.4.3 states "apply the second clip as near the loop or thimble as
possible...".

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Penalty

Initial $2,000

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 10, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,500

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Penalty

Initial $12,500 · Current $12,500

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 working from an
elevated work platform without properly installed emergency escape line
and Geronimo device:
a) Erie County, Union Township, Curtis #2 Well - On or about June 23, 2008
the
Skytop/Brewster Rig #236 emergency escape line for the Geronimo device was
improperly anchored in the ground with a steel stake. Employees working
from the
derrick board were exposed to a fall hazard of fifty five feet (55').
Gene D. Yost & Son, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this OSH
Act standard which
was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 309335438, Citation Number 01,
Item Number
01, issued on 12/22/06.
ABATEMENT REFERENCE:
Reference American Petroleum Standard Institute (API) RP 54 Recommended
Practice
for Occupational Safety of Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing
Operations industry
standard, section 6.10, Auxiliary Escape and Geronimo Manufacturing
Operators
Manual, page 6 Ground Anchor

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Penalty

Initial $25,000 · Current $25,000

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Penalty

Initial $20,000 · Current $20,000

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 24, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,000