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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer does not furnish employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees are exposed to the hazard associated with striking the landing area at excessive speed: Employees working at the derrick platform are exposed to a hazard due to the improper installation of the Geronimo emergency escape device. This condition was last documented on August 31, 2006, on Drilling Rig No. 50 at the derrick platform above the rig floor, in that: a.the wire rope used for the Geronimo emergency escape device is installed with less than the recommended number of clamps (fist grips) at the anchor; b.the installed escape line is less than the recommended length; c.the safety buggy is mounted outside the platform's guardrails. There is no adequate means for the employees to safely mount the device before leaving the work platform. An employee trying to mount the device would be exposed to a fall of approximately 90 feet to the rig floor or 122 feet to the ground. Among other methods of abatement, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be installation of a properly rigged and secured emergency descent device in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and the API Recommended Practice 54, Third Edition, August 1999, Section #6-10.