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 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 struck-by hazard: At this well site, employees of Drilling Rig No. 118 were exposed to being struck by the breakout or lead tongs during work on the rig floor. The employer did not maintain brake and quick-release equipment for the tongs in safe operating condition prior to use. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard would be to establish and enforce accepted safe practices as discussed under the International Association of Drilling Contractors' (IADC) Accident Prevention Reference Guide (April 1998), Section 3.17 - Drawworks, Brakes, Clutches and Sand Reel and the API's RP 54 (August 1999), Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, Section 9.5 - Catheads and Other Lines Powered by the Cathead and Section 9.16 - Inspection of Critical Equipment.