OSHA Inspection: PATTERSON UTI DRILLING CO LLC

Issued

Apr 1, 2011

Abate by

May 4, 2011

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 being struck by an unsecured high pressure hose:
a) Patterson Rig #261 at the Joan Clarke 1H drilling site - Employees were
exposed to
the hazard of being struck by an unsecured high pressure mud line that was
attached to
the standpipe, which resulted in a fatal accident as discovered on or
about January 14,
2011.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to abate this
hazard
is to:
1) Ensure that each section of flexible high pressure hose is properly
secured to prevent unsafe
movement in accordance with American Petroleum Institute API RP-54,
Recommended Practice
for Occupational Safety of Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing
Operations Manual, page
20, section 9.13.3.
ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIREDATION