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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the following condition(s): a) Bayou State Oil Co, Bellevue Oil Field, 1368 Hwy 528, Princeton LA. For the period of time up to and including 4 May 00, the pulling cable of the white workover rig was allowed to cut into the crossmembers of the derrick due to the improper sized sheave installed at the crown of the derrick. The employer allowed for the continued use of the rig, even though damaged. This exposed the employees to the hazards and injuries related to being struck by the derrick should the derrick collapse. According to API RP54 "Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations" Para 5.1.4 : "Unsafe and potentially dangerous conditions should be eliminated or reported immediately to the supervisor in charge for corrective action." Para 5.3.2 states: "Well operations involving the rig shall not be commenced until the rig is rigged up in a safe manner." Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to assure that the correct size sheave is in use to prevent the cables from coming into contact with the derrick.