Abstract: Three employees were drilling a water well using a George Failing truck-mounted rotary drilling rig, model 1250. Employee #1, head driller, was at his work station at the rear of the rig when a kelly finger/pin, a 3/4 in. diameter 10 in. long section of cold rolled steel, slipped past the worn kelly wheel as the kelly rod was being raised. When the turntable was engaged to finish reaming the hole, the centrifugal force loosened the finger, which was held in place by the sticky clay being drilled. The finger fell approximately 20 ft from the top of the derrick/rig, striking Employee #1 on the top of the head. He was not wearing a hard hat. He suffered lacerations, intercranial hematoma, and temporary partial paralysis. The employer did not have a safety and health program and no competent person inspected the drilling before operation. The employees were wearing construction grade shoes.