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 the hazard of "struck by" wire rope: a) Gray Wolf Inc., Rig 309 Parachute, CO: For a period of time up to and including August 16th, 2004, daily inspections did not identify that a 9/16" wire rope leading from the breakout tongs on one end to a section of chain leading into the drawworks on the other end was properly fastened. The wire rope attached to the chain was knotted, thus bent in a zero radius causing early and premature wear on the wire rope. On August 16, 2004, numerous broken strands were noted in the knot portion of the wire rope. Subsequently, the rope was cut to length, threaded through the last chain link and tied using a knot to fasten to the chain. Section 3.7.6. of the American Petroleum Institute (API) document titled Recommended Practice on Application, Care, and Use of Wire Rope for Oilfield Services (9B), 2002 states that a half hitch with or without clips is not desirable as it deforms and weakens the wire rope. One feasible method of abating this hazard would be to use "thimbles" to turn back the wire rope when making a loop using tables 2 and 3 found in section 3.7.2 of API document 9B, 2002. Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (See enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").