OSHA Inspection: WHIPSTOCK NATIONAL GAS SERVICES, LLC

Issued

Feb 29, 2008

Abate by

Mar 12, 2008

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $4,000

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 likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the employees
in that employees
were exposed to struck by hazards:
a.Drilling rig #22, Hart #20 Well site - An employee was exposed to
potential
struck by hazards while standing and working, on a regular basis, within
the
swing arc of the tong handles.  The rotary drive control lever was not
guarded
and an employee was struck by the tong handle during the inadvertent
engagement of the rotary drive, as determined on 01/07/08.
NOTE: Among other methods, one or more feasible and acceptable abatement
methods to
correct this hazard would be to establish and to enforce accepted safe
practices by a) relocate
the rotary drive control lever, b) install a locking feature or have dual
action
lever for the
rotary drive control lever, c) train employees to stay away from the
rotary drive control lever
while employees are working with the tongs, d) implement an effective
breakout pipe
procedure, e) train employees on the hazards associated with pipe tong
operations and safe
positioning of employees, f) maintain good communication between floor
hands and driller,
and g) shorten tong pullback/safety lines.

Issued

Feb 29, 2008

Abate by

Mar 12, 2008

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $4,000

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 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.Drilling rig #22, Hart #20 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 01/07/08.
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 29, 2008

Abate by

Mar 12, 2008

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $4,000

Issued

Feb 29, 2008

Abate by

Mar 19, 2008

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

Issued

Feb 29, 2008

Abate by

Mar 12, 2008

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $5,600

Issued

Feb 29, 2008

Abate by

Mar 19, 2008

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $5,600

Issued

Feb 29, 2008

Abate by

Mar 19, 2008