OSHA Inspection: PATTERSON UTI DRILLING CO LLC

Issued

Sep 25, 2009

Abate by

Oct 5, 2009

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational 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 hazard of falls from elevations and thermal burns:
a) Grimsley #1 Drilling Site/Rig #252/ South Montrose, PA: The elevated
work
platform (monkey board) on the derrick was not equipped with a safety
slide for
employees to utilize to quickly exit that area in the event of an
emergency, on or
about 07/31/09.
Among others, one feasible and acceptable method to abate this hazard is
to follow American
Petroleum Standard Institute (API) RP 54 Recommended Practice for
Occupational Safety of
Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations industry standard,
section 6.10,
Auxiliary Escape, by providing an auxiliary means of escape installed
prior to personnel
working in the derrick.
ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED