Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: FALLING

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the hazard of: a) For the period of time up to and including 08 Dec 04, the employer did not always assure that the drilling operations were commenced in a safe manner. Well drilling operation had commenced without vehicles not involved in the immediate rig operation relocated a minimum distance of 100ft (30.5m) from the wellbore or a distance equal to the height of the derrick mast. This condition allowed a collapsing derrick rig to fall on top of the vehicle parked in close proximity to the drilling rig and other hazards associated with a collapsing rig. American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice RP54 Paragraph 6.3.2 states that: Well Operations Involving the rig shall not be commenced until the rig is rigged up in a safe manner." According to the American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice RP54 Paragraph 6.1.15, it states that: "On land locations, vehicles not involved in the immediate rig operations should be located a minimum distance of 100ft (30.5m) from the wellbore or a distance equal to the height of the derrick or mast (including attachments), whichever is greater." Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be to adhere to the recommendation set forth in American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice RP54 Paragraph 6.1.15 DISCLAIMERS: 1) You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above. 2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases. 3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an appropriate method.