OSHA Inspection: ENSIGN UNITED STATES DRILLING, INC.

Issued

Apr 19, 2011

Abate by

May 9, 2011

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 causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that
employees were exposed to laceration and amputation hazards while working
on the rig floor
of Rig 128 Well Sekich P# 19-21D. The entire top of drawworks drum was
exposed and
there was no guide in place to prevent the wire spool on the drum from
moving left and
right. This design exposed employees to the ingoing nip point between the
moving fast line
and the drum and the moving fast line cable in the zone immediately above
the drum casing:
(a)Ensign United States Drilling, Inc., Weld County #123 40.61N-104.54W,
Greeley, CO 80631: On or before January 25, 2011, the correcting and
exposing employer did not ensure that the drawworks drum was guarded with
a barrier to prevent accidental contact. The moving fast line cable in the
drum
casing is a nip point hazard. This condition exposed employees to
laceration
and amputation hazards.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (see
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").
A feasible method for abatement would be to install a barrier guard over
the drawworks
drum.

Issued

Apr 19, 2011

Abate by

Dec 22, 2011

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not
furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that
were causing or
likely to cause serious physical harm to employees in that employees were
exposed to slip
and fall hazards while accessing and working in and around Rig #128 due to
a damaged
section of a landing step and uneven terrain under the supporting step:
(a)Ensign United States Drilling, Inc., Weld County #123 40.61N-104.54W,
Greeley, CO 80631: On or before January 25, 2011, the correcting and
exposing employer did not ensure that the walking and working surfaces of a
landing step leading up to the mud tank and the sub-level terrain under
the step
were maintained. This condition exposed employees to slip/trip/fall
hazards.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (see
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").
A feasible method of abatement is fixing the landing step so that it is
even again and adding
back filling to the landing area under the step.