OSHA Inspection: TOMCAT DRILLING, LLC

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 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:    Mud pump area:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operated and maintained the drilling rig mud pumps where the pumps discharge hose connections were not secured to preclude unsafe movement.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of being struck by whipping hose ends in the following instances:    a)  Mud pump #1 main discharge hose.    b)  Mud pump #2 main discharge hose.    c)  Mud pump #2 pressure relief hose.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(2):     Ladderway floor opening(s) or platform(s) were not guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard(s) on all exposed sides (except at the entrance to opening) with passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person could walk directly into the opening:    West end of the mud pits platform:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating the drilling rig mud pits worked on the pit platform that had a partially guarded ladder way opening.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of falling over 4 feet.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 16, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8)(ii):     A floor hole cover of standard strength and construction. While the cover is not in place, the floor hole shall be constantly attended by someone or shall be protected by a removable standard railing.      Mud pits platform:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating the drilling rig mud pits worked around and walked by holes in the pits platform that were neither guarded nor attended.  In the following instances this exposed the employees to the hazards of falling into the full pits that were over 4 feet deep:    a)  Next to the caustic hopper, a section of the platform had been removed.    b)  Next to the shale shaker, a section of the platform had been removed.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 16, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):     Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards:    Drilling rig:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil well worked around and walked by unguarded portions of the rig working platforms.  In the following instances the employees were exposed to the hazards of falls over 4 feet:    a)  The drilling floor v door opening.    b)  The west end of the mud pits platform.    c)  The east end of the mud pits platform.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 16, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(2):     Runways four feet or more above floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent) and toeboards:    West end of the mud pits platform:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating the mud pits used an unguarded inclined runway to access the cotton seed hull trailer from the platform.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of falling over 4 feet.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(4):     Safeguards designed to protect employees during an emergency (e.g., sprinkler systems, alarm systems, fire doors, exit lighting) must be in proper working order at all times:    Drilling rig:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees working on the drilling rig derrick racking board during the drilling of an oil well were provided with a deficient secondary means of emergency egress (the Geronimo system).  This exposed them to the hazards of fire, explosion, and/or falling.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a):     Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:    Well site:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil well were not using or provided with flame resistant clothing.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of fire and/or exposion.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c):     Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    Mixing areas of the mud pits:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating the drilling rig mud pits added corrosive materials as caustic soda and hydrated lime to the mud were not provided with eyewash or shower facilities.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of extended contact with the corrosive material in the following instances:    a)  The ground level mud mixing area on the west end of the pits.    b)  The caustic hopper on the west end of the pit platform.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):     Machine guarding was not provided to protect operator(s) and other employees from hazard(s) created by moving machine parts:    Mud pumps area:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating and maintaining the drilling rig mud system worked with and around the rig's 2 mud pumps.  The guards had been removed from the pump reciprocating stroke rods.  This exposed the employees to the hazards of being struck by rod projections and/or being caught in pinch points.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1):     Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    Drilling rig:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating and maintaining a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil well worked with and around equipment that had unguarded pulleys and v belts.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of in-running nip points in the following instances:    a)  Light house,  the generator engine alternator.    b)  Mud pump #2, the pump engine fan and alternator.    c)  Drilling floor, engine #2 fan.    d)  Drilling floor,  the compound drive gear box pump.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i):     Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o)    Drilling rig:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating and maintaining a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil well worked with and around equipment that had unguarded pulleys and v belts.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of in-running nip points in the following instances:    a)  Light house,  the generator engine alternator.    b)  Mud pump #2, the pump engine fan and alternator.    c)  Drilling floor, engine #2 fan.    d)  Drilling floor,  the compound drive gear box pump.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):     Except as elsewhere required or permitted by Subpart S of Part 1910, live parts of electric equipment operating  at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means identified in paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):    Drilling rig:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil well used and worked around electrical supply cabinets that had exposed unguarded conductors.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of electrical shock in the following instances:    a)  The driller dog house, west interior wall, circuit breaker box cover removed.    b)  The light plant house, north interior wall, circuit breaker box no dead front and the box door was open.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 16, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(x):     Flexible cords and cables werenot protected from accidental damage, as might be caused, for example, by sharp corners, projections, and doorways or other pinch point:    Well site:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil well used and worked around cord sets lying on top of well graveled pad and subject to vehicle traffic.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of electrical shock.

Issued

Oct 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c):     Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:    Mud pits shale shaker:  On or about April 13, 2012, employees operated a drilling rig mud pits during the drilling of an oil well where the electrical cord supplying the shale shaker motor was not continous or of a type for extra-hard useage.  This exposed the employees to the hazards of fire/explosion and/or electrical shock.