OSHA Inspection: FRONTIER DRILLING

Issued

May 31, 2012

Abate by

Jul 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1):  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 a potential fall hazard:    (a) On or about 03/02/2012, employees working on the Frontier Drilling rig near Palermo, ND, were exposed to a potential fall hazard of approximately 75 feet created by the wire rope retractable lanyard becoming entangled on the kelly hose clamp attached to the top drive.    Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be to:    1. When it is determined that employees will climb from the work floor to the monkey board while attached to the retractable lanyard affixed at the rig crown, the traveling block with top drive attached will be stopped to eliminate the potential for the wire rope lanyard to become entangled on the moving equipment; and                   2. The retractable lanyard affixed to the crown should not be used to climb from the work floor to the monkey board.  This retractable lanyard should been used exclusively for climbing from the monkey board to the crown for the purpose of maintenance and repair.  The ladder climbing device attached to the ladder should be used for climbing from the work floor to the monkey board and two retractable lanyards should be affixed for work on the monkey board.