OSHA Inspection: TOP DRILLING CORPORATION

Issued

Feb 9, 2007

Abate by

Feb 22, 2007

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,800 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 likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the employees
in that employees
were exposed to thermal burns in the event of a rig fire when working from
an elevated
work platform without an emergency escape line installed:
a.Top Drilling Corporation, Maxwell PH-2 Well site - Employees were exposed
to potential hazards, such as but not limited to, rig collapse, rig fire
and
thermal burns when working from the monkeyboard/derrick platform while
drilling for natural gas.  The employer did not install an auxiliary means
of
escape prior to personnel working up on the derrick, as determined on
01/24/07.
NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to provide an auxiliary means of escape (such as a "Geronimo
line")
installed on
the derrick prior to personnel working in the derrick, as specified by
section 6.10.1 of the
American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard RP 54 - 1999, "Recommended
Practice for
Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing
Operations".

Issued

Feb 9, 2007

Abate by

Feb 16, 2007

Penalty

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