Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 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 causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to hazard of being struck by: Employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by: a.Rotary hose with the hammer connection union and four (4) inch nipple falling from the standpipe as a result of not having implemented at least a semi-annual inspection program or procedure which would require the four (4) inch nipple which threads into the gooseneck at the standpipe be removed and the threads inspected at both ends and then rethreaded into the standpipe gooseneck. There was no chain secured to the rotary hose to prevent it from falling to the rig floor nor was a chain secured to the adjacent derrick leg for that purpose. b.The employer failed to secure the wire rope/chain to the Manufacturer provided lug on the gooseneck of the rotary swivel for securing the upper part of the rotary hose, hammer connection union and the four (4) inch nipple to prevent them from falling. API Spec 8A, Eleventh Edition, May 1, 1985, page 8, Section 5, Sub- Section 5.4, Paragraph 5.4.1. "Swivels having gooseneck connections of two (2) inches and larger shall be provided with a suitable lug containing a 1-1/8 inch hole to accommodate the clevis of a chain having a breaking strength of 16,000 pounds. The location of the lug is at the choice of the manufacturer. API Specification 8C (Spec 8C), First Edition, January 1, 1990, Supplement 1 (January 1, 1992), page 26, Section 7, Sub-Section 7.9, Paragraph 7.9.6 "Gooseneck connections shall be provided with a suitable lug containing an 1-1/2 inch (28mm) diameter hole to accommodate the clevis of a chain having a breaking strength of 16,000 pounds (7250kg). The location of the lug is at the choice of the manufacturer." Paragraph 7.10.5 "Rotary hose safety chain attachments shall meet the requirements of Section 7.9.6. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to implement a maintenance and inspection program as addressed in: API RP54-92, Section 8, Sub-Section 8.2, Paragraph 8.2.1, page number 16; API Specification 7, Thirty-Seventh Edition, August 1, 1990, Section 17, Paragraph 17.7, page number 56; API Spec 8A, Eleventh Edition, May 1, 1985, Page number 8, Section 5, Sub-Section 5.4, Paragraph 5.4.1; API RP8B, Fourth Edition, April 1979, Page 8-10, Figure 4.11,Page C-10; API Specification 8C (Spec 8C), First Edition, January 1, 1990, Supplement 1 (January 1, 1992), Page number 26, Section 7, Sub- Section 7.9, Paragraph 7.9.6 and Paragraph 7.10.5. The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) Drilling Manual, Section H4, Page 1, ROTARY HOSE AND SWIVELS INSPECTIONS which states, "All hoisting tools on the rotary drill rig must have daily inspections followed by monthly and quarterly (more frequent if severe operating conditions or loading is imposed) shutdown inspections."