OSHA Inspection: ACME ENERGY SERVICES, INC. DBA BIG DOG DRILLING

Issued

Dec 18, 2007

Abate by

Jan 15, 2008

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $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 the condition(s) listed below:
ACME Energy Services, Inc., DBA Big Dog Drilling, Rig 3, Lost Dutchman #1,
Martin Co.,
TX.  For the period of time up to and including 07/20/07, employees were
exposed to "struck-
by" hazards on the drill floor during "rig-up" operations on a telescoping
drilling rig.
API Recommended Practice 54, Third Edition, April 1999, titled
"Recommended Practice for
Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Drilling and Servicing Operations",
states in Section 9,
Paragraph 9.2.9, "Only personnel required to carry out the operation shall
be allowed in or
under the mast unless it is in the fully raised or lowered position."
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard
would include insuring no personnel is on the drill floor when telescoping
the mast.coping