OSHA Inspection: MURFIN DRILLING COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Oct 27, 2022

Abate by

Dec 9, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $7,251 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 was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:  At a worksite located at Elk & Road 340, in Gove County, KS 67736 at SE-NW-SW-NE Section 9, Twp. 14 S. R. 30 W, the employer exposed employees operating a hoisting system, called the draw works, on an oil drilling rig to the recognized hazard of being struck by a suspended load when the employer allowed the employees at the draw works control to work adjacent to loads being lifted.  This most recently occurred on May 5, 2022, when a steel drilling collar was being hoisted by the draw works. The drilling collar was approximately 24 ft. long and weighed approximately 1,986 lbs.  The draw works was equipped with a manually operated cathead spool, a pulley-type device powering the rope lifting line to which the load was attached.  The configuration of the draw works control on the rig platform placed the operator close to the lifting line and, consequently, close to the loaded being lifted.  As the load was being lifted, the rope to which it was attached broke, and the load fell and struck the employee operating the cathead spool at the draw works control. The employee later died because of his injuries. The draw works control was not equipped with a protective guard called a "headache post". The lack of guard exposed personnel at the draw works control, including the decedent, to the hazard of being struck by a load being lifted.    Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of abatement are: Comply with American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice 54, Fourth Edition, Section 7.4.4(h) which states: "a headache post or guard shall be provided for protection of personnel at the draw works control when the line is close to the operator during operations of lines powered by the cathead spool."

Issued

Oct 27, 2022

Abate by

Nov 23, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $6,216 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.39(a)(1):The employer did not report within 8-hours the death of an employee resulting from a work-related incident  A work related incident which an employee was fatally injured due to being struck-by equipment was not reported to OSHA within 8 hrs. The incident occurred on May 5, 2022 and the employer was notified at 06:18 a.m. of the fatality. The employer did not report the fatal incident until 04:04 P.M. the same day, exceeding the required 8 hrs.