Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

Section 5(a)(1) of Public Law 91-596, 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)Hazard of being struck by collapsing structure of the mast (derrick) of a well service rig resulting from improperly and inadequately installed mast foundation, guylines and anchors on or about March 30, 2000, at the Allen well location off Terry Creek Road, near Magnolia, MS, when the employer did not follow the manufacturer's recommended specifications for the placement of the mast foundation, and safe guying of the mast to ensure acequate anchorage of the Wilson Mogul 42 Workover Rig, SN 10498, while employees performed work on the rig floor and the pipe racking board. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to install mast foundations, anchors and guylines, and ensure pull-out integrity for adequate anchorage by following the rig manufacturer's instruction manual at paragraphs entitled Foundations, Safety, and Guying the Mast; and by conducting pull tests such as specified by American Petroleum Institute, API RP 54 - 1981, Section 8, Sub-Section 8.4. Essential elements of this procedure would include 1) following the rig manufacturer's instruction manual for requirements on foundations for the mast and positioning jackscrews; 2) following the rig manufacturer's instruction manual for requirement on guying, guylines and anchorages; 3) verifying the holding capacity required for each dead weight or guy anchor; 4) conducting and recording data on representative pull tests for the areas, size and type of anchor involved by recognized testing methods; 5) installing anchors using the exact mode of installation corresponding to representative pull test data for the area which assures adequate anchorage.