OSHA Inspection: EAGLE ROCK DRILLING INC.

Issued

Dec 29, 2011

Abate by

Jan 3, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,900

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:
Eagle Rock Drilling Inc., Rig 5, Bennett Ranch Unit 4367, Yoakum County,
TX.  For the
period of time up to and including 08/22/11, employees were exposed to
struck-by hazards due
to the tool-slide not being secured to the rig floor.
API Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well
Drilling and Servicing
Operations, API Recommended Practice 54, Third Edition, August 1999,
Reaffirmed, March
2007, states in section 6.3.2, "Well operations involving the rig shall
not be commenced until
the rig is rigged up in a safe manner."
Feasible and Acceptable Abatement Methods would include:
1.  Ensure the tool-slide is secured in place prior to commencing any
drilling activities.
2.  Modify the current position of the tool-slide such that it is clearly
evident when it has not
been secured.