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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: 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 struck by, crushed by, and/or fall hazards: (a) On January 29th, 2006, employees of American Casing & Equipment were working on Pioneer Rig #40 at the Ormiston Well site located at 7335 98th Street NW near Flaxton, North Dakota. An employee of American Casing & Equipment, while performing tasks as a "stabber", was struck in the head by the elevator clamps while stabbing a joint of 4-inch drill pipe. Among other methods, the following are feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct or eliminate the hazards: 1. Eliminate the stabbing position by hoisting the pipe or casing with the elevator clamp from the rig floor. 2. Modify the procedure to prohibit the stabber from attaching the elevator clamp while the pipe is being spun by the power tongs and implement an adequate training program to instruct employees involved in the stabbing operation to recognize and avoid the hazards associated with the task. Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Sample Abatement Certification Letter").tion