OSHA Inspection: FRONTIER DRILLING, LLC

Issued

Jan 2, 2008

Abate by

Feb 5, 2008

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not
furnish 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 struck by hazards:
(a)Frontier Drilling, LLC & Rig # 3 County Rd 352, Rifle, CO 81650: On or
before July 19, 2007, the employer did not secure (tether) a 2" circulating
chicksen swivel with a chain or cable clamped to the derrick or mast leg to
prevent it from falling. The employer connected a chicksen swivel to a
swedge, with the swedge connected to a 40 foot long 5 1/2 inch casing pipe.
The chicksen swivel was not connected to a 2 inch high pressure rotary hose
on the other end. The travelling block raised the casing pipe and chicksen
approximately 40 feet to make the last joint. When the power tongs turned
the
casing pipe, the chicksen swivel came into contact with the bails, which
backed the swedge out of it's threaded connection. The swedge and chicksen
seperated from the casing pipe and fell to the floor below, striking the
company man on the back of the head, resulting in a fatality. The condition
exposed employees to struck-by hazards.
man, on the back of the head. The condition exposed employees to struck-by
hazards.
Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for
this item (see
enclosed "Sample Abatement Certification Letter").
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is
stated in API
Recommended Practice 54, Section 9.7.7, which provides that, "The pump end
of the rotary
hose should be securely fastened to the derrick or mast by a cable or by
chain clamped to the
hose and to the derrick or mast leg. The swivel end of the hose should be
secured by a
similar cable or chain, with the other end of the cable or chain affixed
to the swivel." In
addition, Section 9.2.1.3 provides that, "Tools, parts, and other
materials shall not be kept in
the derrick or mast above the rig floor unless they are in use and
precautions are taken to
prevent them from falling."
Abatement Note: All chains, cables, and connecting parts to e.g. sheaves
are required to be
rated or pull tested to ensure these parts can handle loads placed on
them, along with an
appropriate safety factor.

Issued

Jan 2, 2008

Abate by

Jan 29, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,375 · Current $893 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 hazards due to failure of running wire
rope within the
air tugger:
(a)Frontier Drilling, LLC & Rig # 3 County Rd 352, Rifle, CO 81650:  On or
before July 19, 2007, the drilling contractor did not ensure that frequent
and
periodic inspections were performed for the Chinese pneumatic winches model
# XJFH, used to raise and lower dril pipe, personnel, and other drilling
rig
components. The air tugger had a section of the running rope or lay, that
had
bird caged, which may decrease the tensile strength of the rope. The
drilling
contractor did not have sufficient procedures and controls implemented to
effectively ensure running rope on the air tuggers was inspected
frequently and
periodically to determine if wire rope was sufficient for use. The
condition
exposed employees working on the derrick floor to struck-by hazards as a
result of the wire rope failing.
Abatement Note: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to
correct this
hazard can be found in the American National Standards Institute
B.30.7-2001 Section 7-
2.1,7-2.1.2, 7-2.1.4, and 7-2.4, which provides for frequent and periodic
inspections and the
recordkeeping associated with such inspections.
Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for
this item (see
enclosed "Sample Abatement Certification Letter").

Issued

Jan 2, 2008

Abate by

Jan 29, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,375 · Current $893 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 a potential fall hazard associated with lifting
personnel on the oil
rig's winches:
(a)Frontier Drilling, LLC & Rig # 3 County Rd 352, Rifle, CO 81650:  On or
before July 19, 2007, the employer did not ensure that employees utilizing
fall
protection equipment was suitable and complied with the applicable
provisions
of the standard. Employees utilize chains connected to the cable of a
pnuematic winch line system located on the rig floor, by connecting and
doubling up the chains through the back D-ring of the full body harness,
and
tying a knot to prevent the chain from pulling apart while the employee was
being hoisted. The employee would then be lifted by the full body harness
to
work on equipment that was elevated off of the rig floor. The  condition
exposed the employee to a fall hazard of approximately 40 feet.
Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see
enclosed "Sample
Abatement Certification Letter").
Abatement Note: Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable method
can be found
in the American National Standards Institute Z359.1-1992, Section 7.2.1,
which provides
that, "No knots shall be tied in lanyards, lifelines, or anchorage
connectors. Sliding hitch
knots shall not be used in lieu of fall arresters." In addition, section
7.2.2, "Mulitple
connections into a single ring are not recommended (i.e., two snaphooks:
snaphook and
webbing: snaphook and carabiners).

Issued

Jan 2, 2008

Abate by

Jan 29, 2008

Penalty

Initial $825