Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: FALLING

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 burns and falls from the derrick platform: a) On or about June 8, 2004 and in times past, the employer did not provide for an auxiliary means of escape for employees working the derrick platform. An incident requiring the derrick man to occupy the derrick platform could arise at any time and an auxiliary means of escape was not provided on the rig located at the LeLand Schroeder Well # 1 in Franklin TX. In times prior to June 8, 2004 while the derrick man was in the derrick platform the employer did not provide for a auxiliary mean of escape. Since an incident requiring the derrick man to work in the derrick platform could arise at any time during the servicing of a well, the auxiliary means of escape would not have been available to the derrick man. Among other methods, recognized and feasible means to correct this hazard include, but are not limited to the employer could have followed the guidelines provided by the American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 54 6.10.1 which requires the installation of an auxiliary means of escape prior to personnel working in the derrick.