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 a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck by hazards: a)Fort Drilling, LLC at Rig 5 at Shable 32-44, Grover, CO 80729: On or before 7/16/2009, the employer did not ensure that bolts, nuts, and pins were secured in the following instances: 1)A connection point for the breakout tong snub lines was not secured in that the bolt and nut were not screwed on tight, and were not secured with a cotter key. Condition exposed employees to the hazard of being struck by the tongs when breaking a drilling pipe connection; Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods are stated in API Recommended Practice 54 Section 9.2.8, providing, "Bolts, nuts, and pins on elevators, wire rope, and catlines, as well as sheave and other anchor bolts in the derrick or mast, should be secured." 2)A connection point for the makeup tongs snub lines was not secured in that the bolt and nut were not screwed on tight, and were not secured with a cotter key. Condition exposed employees to the hazard of being struck by the tongs when making a drilling pipe connection; Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods are stated in API Recommended Practice 54 Section 9.2.8, providing, "Bolts, nuts, and pins on elevators, wire rope, and catlines, as well as sheave and other anchor bolts in the derrick or mast, should be secured." 3)Two of the four derrick "A" frame legs, on the rig floor, were not secured with pins. Condition exposed employees to the hazard of being struck by the derrick in a collapse; Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods are stated in API Recommended Practice 54 Section 9.2.8, providing, "Bolts, nuts, and pins on elevators, wire rope, and catlines, as well as sheave and other anchor bolts in the derrick or mast, should be secured." 4)Two horizontal supports for the mast, located within 15 feet above the rig floor, were not secured with pins. Condition exposed employees to the hazard of being struck by the derrick in a collapse; Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods are stated in API Recommended Practice 54 Section 9.2.8, providing, "Bolts, nuts, and pins on elevators, wire rope, and catlines, as well as sheave and other anchor bolts in the derrick or mast, should be secured." 5)Two clevis' used to connect the breakout and makeup tongs to the vertical wire rope that lifted the tongs off of the rig floor, were not secured, in that both clevis' were missing their cotter keys. Condition exposed employees to the hazard of being struck by both sets of tongs. Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods are stated in API Recommended Practice 54 Section 9.2.8, providing, "Bolts, nuts, and pins on elevators, wire rope, and catlines, as well as sheave and other anchor bolts in the derrick or mast, should be secured." Conditions exposed employees to struck by hazards. Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (See enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").