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 likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the employees in that employees were exposed to struck by hazards: a.Drilling rig #22, Hart #20 Well site - An employee was exposed to potential struck by hazards while standing and working, on a regular basis, within the swing arc of the tong handles. The rotary drive control lever was not guarded and an employee was struck by the tong handle during the inadvertent engagement of the rotary drive, as determined on 01/07/08. NOTE: Among other methods, one or more feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard would be to establish and to enforce accepted safe practices by a) relocate the rotary drive control lever, b) install a locking feature or have dual action lever for the rotary drive control lever, c) train employees to stay away from the rotary drive control lever while employees are working with the tongs, d) implement an effective breakout pipe procedure, e) train employees on the hazards associated with pipe tong operations and safe positioning of employees, f) maintain good communication between floor hands and driller, and g) shorten tong pullback/safety lines.