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

Section 5(a)(1): 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 fall hazards: a) Vaira B1: On or about June 18, 2013 and at times prior, employees were exposed to an approximate 60 foot fall hazard while working from the derrickman's tubing platform where the employer had installed an emergency egress "Geronimo" safety unit that had the escape line rigged with one wire rope clip at the anchor point. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct the hazard would be for the employer to correctly install and rig the "Geronimo" safety slide ground anchor cable to withstand a pull of at least 3,000 lb. Illustration 2 and 3, pages 10 and 11 of the Manufacturer's Operators Manual contains the statement to use at least three American Petroleum Institute approved cable clamps to secure it in place when a thimble is used to turn back the wire rope and then apply the wire rope clips. When using a sheave, follow the American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice (API RP) 9B 11th Edition, 2002 Recommended Practice on Application, Care and Use of Wire Rope for Oilfield Service. Section 3.7.4 recommends four wire rope clips to achieve this rating when a sheave is used at the anchor point. b) Vaira B1: On or about June 18, 2013 and at times prior, employees were exposed to a fall and rapid descent from an emergency escape line where the employer had the emergency escape (Geronimo) safety slide anchor approximately 57 feet from the well bore. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct the hazard would be for the employer to follow the American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice (API RP 54) Third Edition, August 1999, Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, section 6.10 AUXILIARY ESCAPE, subsection 6.10.1(a). ...it is recommended that the ground anchor point of the escape line should be located a minimum lateral distance from the derrick or mast equal to two times the height of the work platform. The horizontal distance of the anchor point would need to have been at least 208 feet and secured to the anchor point with at least four wire rope clips with a sheave in place. c) Vaira B1: On or about June 18,, 2013 and at times prior, employees were exposed to an approximate 60 foot fall hazard while working from the derrickman's tubing platform where the employer had installed an emergency egress "Geronimo" safety unit that was installed with the brake handle on the wrong side. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct the hazard would be for the employer to correctly install and rig the "Geronimo" safety slide cart according to Illustrations 9 and 10, pages 17 and 18 of the Manufacturer's Operators Manual.