OSHA Inspection: BAYS DRILLING COMPANY, INC.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 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:     Drilling rig:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of a oil/gas well worked with and around pressurized hoses.  Mud pump #2 main discharge hose ends and an auxiliary discharge hose end had not been secured to preclude unsafe movement.   This exposed the employees to the hazard of being struck by whipping hose ends.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(c): Covers and/or guardrails were not provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.:     Well site pit area:  On or about January 23 and 24, 2013, and times prior to, employees operating the drilling rig walked by the unguarded silt pit, and the haul off contractor employees pumped liquid and scooped out cuttings from the pit.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of falling into the unguarded pit.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(7): Every temporary floor opening did not have standard railings, or was not constantly attended by someone.    Drilling rig mud pits: On or about January 23, 2013, employees operating the rig mud system during the drilling of an oil/gas well worked around and walked by three openings caused by missing grating over the suction pit.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of falling over one foot.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8): Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk were not guarded:  Drilling rig mud pits: On or about January 23, 2013, employees operating the rig mud system during the drilling of an oil/gas well worked around and walked by two holes caused by removed pit piping.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of stepping in the holes.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,200 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 January 23, 2013, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil/gas well work on elevated rig surfaces that had areas where guardrails sections were not installed.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of falling over 4 feet in the following instances:    a)  The drilling floor v door entrance.    b)   The substructure base on both sides of the v ramp.    c)    The mud house loading platform.    d)    The mud house platform adjacent to the mud pits, both ends.    e)    The stairway, from the ground to the mud pit, landing.    f)    Mixing pit, midway along the pit.    g)   Mixing pit adjacent to the mud house.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(d)(1)(ii): Cages or wells (except as provided in subparagraph (5) of this paragraph) conforming to the dimensions shown in figures D-7, D-8, and D-9 were not provided on ladders of more than 20 feet to a maximum unbroken length of 30 feet:    Drilling rig derrick:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil/gas well accessed the rig derrick by a continous ladder mounted on the derrick.  The ladder was not equipped with a cage and the provided ladder safety device was not used by employees.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of falling over 20 feet.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(4): Safeguard(s) designed to protect employees during an emergency (e.g., sprinkler systems, alarm systems, fire doors, exit lighting), were not in proper working order at all times:    Drilling rig derrick: on and about January 23, 2013, and times prior to, employees working in a drilling rig derrick during the drilling of an oil/gas well were not provided with a functioning secondary means of egress system (the Geronimo).  This exposed the employees to the hazards of fire and explosion.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 31, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 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:    Drilling rig:  On or about December 3, 2012, employees were rigging down (disassembling) the drilling rig in preparation to moving it.  Employees on the elevated drilling floor were either not provided with or using personal fall protection equipment during and after removing the floor protective system.  This exposed those employees to the hazard of falling over 4 feet.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(f)(3): Tags were not used as a means to prevent accidental injury or illness to employees who were exposed to hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions, equipment or operations which were out of the ordinary, unexpected or not readily apparent:     Drilling rig:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil/gas well worked around equipment and their controls that were out of service awaiting repair and/or parts.  The equipment and/or associated controls were not tagged with warnings as "Out of Service" or "Do Not Operate".  This exposed the employees working in the equipment area to the hazards of being struck by moving machinery or high pressure liquids.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jul 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(b): There was neither an infirmary, clinic, or hospital used for the treatment of all injured employees in near proximity to the workplace nor a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid:     Well site: on or about January 23, 2013, and times prior to, employees were operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil/gas well in an area where there were no local medical services available and there were no first aid trained employees.  This exposed the employees to the hazards of delayed medical attention and/or improper medical attention.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 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:    Mud pits caustic drum area:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees operating a drilling rig mud system during the drilling of an oil/gas well used corrosive materials and were not provided with a shower/eyewash.  This exposed them to the hazard of prolonged corrosive contact.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(4): Portable fire extinguishers were not maintained in a fully charged and operable condition:    Drilling rig:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil/gas well were provided with two fire extinguishers that had low/no pressure.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of fire.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:  Drilling rig:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil/gas well were provided with three fire extinguishers that had been last inspected in September, 2011.  Two of the extinguishers were defective.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of fire.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jul 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator was competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):    Well site:  On or about January 23, 2013, untrained employees operated a rough terrain forklift to support drilling rig activities.  This exposed all site employees to the hazard of being struck by the forklift and/or its load.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(c)(14): Slings without affixed and legible identification markings were used:     Drilling rig drilling floor:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees used the air hoist to bring drilling pipe and other equipment to the drilling floor.  Attached to the hoist wire rope line was a chain sling that was connected to the loads:  The sling was missing its information tag and was in service.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of being struck by a falling load.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(d): Sling(s) and fastenings were not inspected each day or during use and were not removed from service when damaged or defective:  Drilling rig drilling floor:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees used the air hoist to bring drilling pipe and other equipment to the drilling floor.  Attached to the hoist wire rope line was a chain sling that was connected to the loads:  The sling had not been adequately inspected, it was damaged, and was in service.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of being struck by a falling load.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(e)(1): Alloy steel sling(s) did not have permanently affixed durable identification stating size, grade, rated capacity, and reach:  Drilling rig drilling floor:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees used the air hoist to bring drilling pipe and other equipment to the drilling floor.  Attached to the hoist wire rope line was a chain sling that was connected to the loads:  The sling did not have an identification tag.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of being struck by a falling load.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(e)(3)(i): Thorough periodic inspections of alloy steel chain slings in use were not made on a regular basis:   Drilling rig drilling floor:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees used the air hoist to bring drilling pipe and other equipment to the drilling floor.  Attached to the hoist wire rope line was a chain sling that was connected to the loads:  The sling had not been inspected peroidically.  This exposed the employees to the hazard of being struck by a falling load.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:     Mud pump house:  On or about January 23, 2013, employees were operating, repairing, and maintaining a drilling rig's mud system during the drilling of an oil/gas well.  The employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by moving machinery and flying component pieces:     a)    Mud pump #2 stroke rod area was not guarded on top allowing access to the reciprocating rods.     b)    Mud pump #2 pressure relief valve did a cover installed to contain ejecting shear pin pieces on the valve activation.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jun 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(h)(6): The employer required an employee to provide or pay for his or her own PPE, unless the PPE is excepted by paragraphs (h)(2) through (h)(5) of this section:  Well site:  On or about January 23, 2013, and times prior to, employees operating a drilling rig during the drilling of an oil/gas well were required to provide their own protective helmets.