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 hazards: (a) On Rig #48 located near Watford City in McKenzie County, North Dakota, on or about December 8, 2002, the employer did not initiate prompt and sufficient procedures to control the entry of gas and oil into the well bore, resulting in a fire on the rig floor. An acceptable and feasible means of abatement is to review, modify as necessary, and re-train employees in well control procedures including but not limited to the necessity of quickly, and without the approval of operator representatives, initiating established well control procedures whenever a good faith safety concern exists as to the presence of oil and gas kicks or potential blowouts. In addition, the employer will review and modify as it deems necessary, the safety-related well control equipment on its oil and gas drilling rigs in the State of North Dakota.g