OSHA Inspection: PATTERSON - UTI DRILLING COMPANY, LP

Issued

Sep 30, 2010

Abate by

Nov 3, 2010

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:
a) On May 5, 2010, at around 7 am, on Rig #196 at a location in Reagan
County, Texas,
southeast of Midkiff, an employee was handling a section of drill pipe
after it was removed from
the mousehole. A portion of the kelly struck the storm bar on the tubing
rack (or monkeyboard),
causing the drill pipe to swing across the rig floor with some force. The
motor man was
handling the pipe without using a safety line to handle the pipe. He was
thus exposed to the
hazard of being struck by the swinging pipe and being struck against the
tongs after being
carried across the rig floor by the swinging pipe.
API Recommended Practic RP 54 - Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well
Drilling
and
Servicing Operations, paragraph 6.1.4 - Operations - states in part that
"unsafe acts will not be
permitted." Employees were expected by this employer to use a safety line
to handle the drill
pipe, and the failure to use such a line in this instance constituted an
unsafe act, which was
carried out in full view of the rig operator. In addition, the striking of
the storm bar, which was
severely bent by the impact, by the kelly indicates hasty operation of the
hoisting equipment.
One feasible means of abatement is to require the use of a safety line to
handle drill pipe during
these operations, have the driller monitor the crew to ensure that they
follow this procedure,
provide additional training to drillers regarding clearing the derrick,
and remove the storm bar
from the monkeyboard when it is not actually needed.

Issued

Sep 30, 2010

Abate by

Oct 5, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,000 Reduced