OSHA Inspection: GEM DRILLING COMPANY INC.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,000 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 fall hazards:     On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, the stairway(s) located on the west and north sides of the rig floor were not securely fastened. Both stairways had a set of pins to connect them to the rig floor but were not utilized. Employees were exposed to the fall hazards greater than 6-feet.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes were not free and/or unobstructed. Materials or equipment were placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route.     On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, employees were exposed to trip hazards due to obstructions in the exit routes:       a)    On the rig floor, outside the entrance to the Top Doghouse, the metal flooring sticking up approximately 2-inches caused a trip hazard and obstructed the exit route.     b)    On the Mud pump/generator side of the rig floor, at the lower end of the stairway a 2-inch water line caused a trip hazard and obstructed the exit route.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet (1.22 m) or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v)), on all open sides:    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2 on rig floor, the stairway(s) and guard railing(s) coming together had large gaps between them, exposing employees to a fall hazard of greater than 6-feet:       a)    On the westside of the rig floor, a gap approximately 18-inches wide on the right side and 20-inches wide on the left of the stairway landing was not guarded.     b)    On the northside of the rig floor, a gap approximately 17-inches wide on the left side of the stairway landing was not guarded.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Feb 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(iv): The anchoring of posts and framing of members for railings of all types were not of such construction that the completed structure was capable of withstanding a load of at least 200 pounds applied in any direction at any point on the top rail:   On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, on south side corner of the rig floor and Top Doghouse, two guardrail sections were joined using twine rope, which showed signs of deterioration (approximately half the rope strands were torn apart). The rail to the left was not set properly into the guardrail slot. Employees were exposed to a fall hazard of greater than 6-feet.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $1,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(f): Ladders were not maintained in a safe condition or inspected regularly:    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2 (on the rig floor), the hook ladder that attached to the fixed ladder that lead up to the monkey board had its hook on the right side broken, the hook ladder was not secure. Employees were exposed to the fall hazards greater than 6-feet.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.176(c): Storage areas were not kept free from accumulation of materials that constituted hazards from tripping, fire, explosion or pest harborage:    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, the storage areas behind the rig were not kept free from accumulation of materials such as but not limited to unused piping, empty pallets and plastic bags which, constituted hazards from tripping or pest harborage.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): Unguarded rotating shaft ends projected more than one-half the diameter of the shaft:    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, on the back end of Mud Pump #2 a rotating shaft projecting more than one-half the diameter of the shaft was not guarded by non-rotating caps or safety sleeves. Employees were exposed to caught-in hazards.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $0 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):    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, employees were exposed to struck-by and caught-in hazards in the following instances:      a)    On the left side of Mud Pump #1, the water pump fan belt pulley connected to the water diagram and operating in conjunction with the generator was not guarded.     b)    On the left side of Mud Pump #1, the vertical fan belt lower pulley attached to the pump was not guarded.     c)     At the Shale Shaker, the generator fan belt pulleys were not guarded.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

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):    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, employees were exposed to struck-by and caught-in hazards in the following instances:      a)    On the left side of Mud Pump #1, the water pump fan belt connected to the water diagram and operating in conjunction with the generator left unprotected.     b)    On the left side of Mud Pump #1, the vertical fan belt attached to the pump was missing the guard.     c)     At the Shale Shaker, the generator operating the Shale Shaker fan belts were missing guards.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i): All exposed part(s) of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform were not protected by stationary casing(s) enclosing shafting completely or by trough(s) enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting:    On or about, November 5, 2013, Rig #2, employees were exposed to caught-between hazards in the following instances:      a)    Mud Pump #1 was not fitted with guards on both sides of where the horizontal shaft (Piston Rod) is located.       b)    Mud Pump #2 was not fitted with guards on both sides of where the horizontal shaft (Piston Rod) is located.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5): The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures was not permanent, continuous, and effective:    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2; the light plant was not grounded properly. The ground electrode rod (approximately 32-inches in length) was inserted approximately 2-inches into the earth, this condition exposed employees to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(x): Flexible cords and cables were not protected from accidental damage, as might be caused, for example, by sharp corners, projections, and doorways or other pinch points:    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, the junction box attached to the side of the light plant was hard wired with a 220V nominal cable running through the junction box door instead of through the hole on the side designed for the purpose. Employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(d): Panelboards were not mounted in cabinets, cutout boxes, or enclosures approved for the purpose and were not dead front:    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, the junction box attached to the side of the light plant did not have a dead front or enclosures approved for the purpose. Employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws:    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, in the Top Doghouse the male-end of the 6-outlet power strip cable had strain relief busted. The power strip was used as a power source. Employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(xi): Cable assemblies and flexible cords and cables were not supported in place at intervals that ensure that they will be protected from physical damage:    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, the 120V nominal cable coming from the light plant junction box which supplied power to the flood light mounted at the mud pump ran suspended above ground approximately 4-feet 4-inches. Employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(B): Flexible cords and/or cables were run through holes in walls:    On or about November 5, 2013, In the upper left-hand side of the Top Doghouse, two 120V nominal power cables were run through a hole in the metal wall. Employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Feb 3, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    On or about November 5, 2013, Rig #2, at the mixing area two employees were observed mixing the chemical products DRISPAC and Bentonite which required respirator use. One employee was not wearing his N-95 mask correctly. Bentonite contains Crystalline Silica, which can cause cancer while DRISPAC may be irritating to the respiratory tract if inhaled. The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures to address those hazardous chemicals.