OSHA Inspection: CACTUS DRILLING, LLC

Issued

May 6, 2010

Abate by

Jun 22, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $2,125

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:
Cactus Elk City Yard, west end; on or about November 17, 2009, employees
and contractor
employees were conducting a partial rig erection in preparation to modify
the rig to a top drive
under the direction of the employer's on site manager, the employer did
not inform the crane
operator of the rig component weights nor lifting points.  This exposed
the employees to the
hazards of being struck by falling rig components and/or crane structure.
Two employees were
on top of the rig substructure to pin the A-legs to the substructure and
had previously pinned the
mast base section to the substructure; the mast section with the A-legs
attached was swung/lifted
from a horizonal position upward to the vertical position by a large
hydraulic crane; the crane
rigging was attached to the A-legs spreader beam.  The A-legs would not go
into
place.  The
A-leg spreader beam, which was secured by a chain sling at it mid point,
failed and broke into
pieces.  One piece struck the two employees fatally injuring them.  The
American Society of
Mechanical Engineers Standard, ASME, Mobile and Locomotive Cranes
B30.5-2005-.3,1.3.2.2
(l) the lift director responsibilities "informing the crane operator of
the weight of loads to be
lifted as well as the lifting moving, and placing locations for these
loads."
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to ensure that the crane operator is provided the rig component weights
and attachment points
prior to lifting operations.

Issued

May 6, 2010

Abate by

May 17, 2010

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

May 6, 2010

Abate by

May 17, 2010