Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 170081368 - Employee killed when struck by hammer union fitting

Accident Summary Nr: 170081368 -- Report ID: 0625700 -- Event Date: 07/17/1995
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
103433488	07/18/1995	1381	0	Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co.

Abstract: Employee #1, a floorhand, was on the drill floor of an oil well drilling rig replacing a pressure sensor. A pressure sensor measures the hydraulic pressure of drilling fluid in a standpipe. The pressure sensor was attached to the standpipe by a 4 in. diameter hammer union. Employee #1 removed the broken pressure sensor, and replaced it with another one that had a similar (female) hammer union fitting attached. Apparently the threads were not compatible and, when the standpipe was pressured to approximately 2,000 psi, the hammer union blew apart, causing Employee #1 to strike his head against the derrick leg. He sustained multiple fractures and was killed.

Keywords: FRACTURE, HEAD, MAINTENANCE, WORK RULES, OIL WELL DRILLING, STRUCK AGAINST, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, HIGH PRESSURE

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	103433488			Fatality	Fracture	Occupation not reported

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