OSHA Inspection: PATTERSON-UTI DRILLING COMPANY

Issued

Jan 5, 2007

Abate by

Jan 23, 2007

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer does not
furnish employment and a place of employment which is free from recognized
hazards that are
causing or likely to cause death or physical harm:
The employer violated this standard on or about July 6, 2006, at Rig 416
on the Clint 1-8 lease,
Hinton, Oklahoma, while employees were engaged in oil/gas well drilling
utilizing a rotary
drilling rig. The employer did not ensure that the rig mast and elevated
hoisting system were
adequately inspected prior to use, to identify structural defects, as
required by API 4G. Section
6.1, such as but not limited to, cracks in the secondary structure of the
crown, adequately
secured crown block assembly  to prevent sheaves from jumping out of their
bearings and
secondary mast damage.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard is to follow the
inspection guidelines identified by the rig manufacture to ensure that an
inspection
conducted by
qualified employees includes the mast, crown, draw works, and hoisting
system.g