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 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 a fall hazard: Employees were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 15 to 20 feet while securing the flowline and the blowout preventer stack. One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct the hazards is to assure that every employee, when engaged in work 10 feet or more above the rig floor or other working surfaces shall wear a safety belt with an attached lanyard, except when the work being performed requires freedom of body movement and except during rig-up and rig-down operations. When safety belts and lanyards are used, the following shall apply: a.Employee shall use a safety belt in good condition and suitable for the particular job. b.Safety belt shall be attached by means of a lanyard to an anchor or structural member capable of supporting a minimum dead weight of 5,400 pounds. c.A separate lanyard of at least one-half inch diameter nylon material or equivalent shall be used by each employee requiring a lanyard. The lanyard shall be adjusted to permit a maximum drop of 5 feet in case of a fall. d.Each employee shall inspect his safety belt and lanyard prior to each use. This abatement method is specified by API RP54 92, page 8, paragraph 4.5.1. This alleged condition occurred on or about January 6, 1995.