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

OSH ACT of 1970 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 rig crew employees were exposed to struck-by hazards: On or about June 24, 2013, casing operations were being performed to install casing pipe in a newly dilled oil and gas well at the Faulkner 5 3H Well, 10 miles North and 2.5 miles West of Ogallah, Kansas. An employee was exposed to fall hazards from the elevated work platform/derrick basket which broke loose (and fell) when the derrick basket and the casing elevator came into contact with one another. Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard may include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Develop and Implement Written Standard Operating Procedures specific to the task of Stabbing from the Drill Rig Basket as noted in API RECOMMENDED Practice 54, Third Edition, August 1999, Reaffirmed March 2007, Recommend Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, Chapter 12.3.2: Signals between supervisors, personnel, and other involved persons should be agreed upon and fully understood prior to initiation of operations. 2. Establish a clear and direct means of communications between the stabber/derrick man and driller and/or assistant driller in order for the driller to notify the stabber of casing elevator activity, and for the stabber to be able to notify them that he is clear of the casing elevator and all other equipment and machinery. 3. Train employees on all communications (verbal, electronic, hand, light, or other signals) procedures and ensure they are used at all times during the entire casing installation and casing removal processes. 4. Hold a Pre-Start-Up Safety Meeting with all employees of all employers on the worksite to ensure all employees understand the task(s), standard operating procedures, and emergency procedures pertaining to the work to be accomplished during the work shift.