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

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 fire and explosion: Employee was exposed to the hazard of fire and explosion due to the improper rigging of the Geronimo Emergency Escape Line and installation of the Geronimo Emergency Escape Device on the Geronimo Emergency Escape Line due to: a.Geronimo Emergency Escape Device was rigged approximately ten (10) feet above the floor of the pipe racking board which is approximately seventy (70) feet above ground level with no means of safe access to the Geronimo Emergency Escape Device, i.e. employee would have to climb the East derrick leg in order to use the Geronimo Emergency Escape Device. b.The Geronimo Emergency Escape Line was installed improperly, i.e. in such a manner which was too steep and which did not allow for adequate slack in order to allow the employee with enough travel distance in order to stop twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) feet prior to the anchoring point as recommended by Geronimo Manufacturing, Inc. c.The Geronimo Emergency Escape Line was anchored improperly, i.e. the Geronimo Emergency Escape Line was wrapped around an upright steel rod on the West end of the skid with two (2) half hitches and then wrapped around the roll bar of the skid with there being no Crosby clamps installed on the live end of the escape line. This occurred on or about June 18, 1996 on Padre Drilling Company, Inc., Rig Number 8. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be installation of a properly rigged and secured emergency descent device or other satisfactory auxiliary means of egress, such as specified in Section 5, Sub-Section 5.7, Paragraph 5.7.l of American Petroleum Institute (API) RP 54-92, page 12. Essential elements of this procedure would include: 1.Staking out a securely anchored one-half inch wire rope escape line attached to the derrick or mast so as to provide a ready and convenient means of escape from the Derrickman's working platform. 2.The escape line route is to be kept clear of obstructions. 3.A safety device is to be provided to permit fast emergency exit from the Derrickman's working platform to a safe place. 4.The tension on the escape line is to be periodically checked and adjusted to assure a safe landing and to allow the Derrickman to stop twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) feet from the anchor point. 5.The ground anchor point of the escape line is to be located a minimum lateral distance from the derrick or mast equal to the height above ground level to the point where the escape line is fastened.