Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003 Hazard: CRUSHING

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 a service rig(s) guy wires that were not equipped with visual safety markers and proper safety restraint systems: a) Jefferson County, Warsaw Township, Sprague Wingard 10 well - On or about December 22, 2008, and at times prior thereto --- Employees were exposed to struck-by, crushing, and blunt force trauma hazards from the Walker-Neer Service Rig #4 that commenced well operations without ensuring the rig was erected and assembled (rigged up) in a safe manner according to manufacturer specifications and/or industry standards as evidenced by the improper erection, assembly, and installation of guy wires and rigging equipment: Specifically, these conditions existed on the following guy wire components: 1. Marking of Guy Wires - Visible markers were not placed on each guy wire to prevent accidental contact and resulting physical damage from heavy equipment and vehicle traffic. 2. Come-Along Rigging Equipment - A "chain-around" system did not bypass the come-alongs that were used to tension the guy wires. The come-alongs were designed to tension the guy wires and were not designed/installed to transmit the load from the guy wires to the anchors. ABATEMENT NOTE: Among others, one feasible and useful abatement method to correct this hazard is to: (1) Follow the requirements of Walker-Neer Manufacturer Co., Inc. specification sheet which requires four (4) crown guy wires from the mast be connected to ground anchors. (2) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) RP54 Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, Paragraph 6.3.2 which states that "Well operations involving the rig shall not be commenced until the rig is rigged up in a safe manner." (3) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) RP4E Recommended Practice on Specification for Drilling and Well Servicing Structures, Paragraph 3.14 which states "User shall be responsible for providing anchorage capable of withstanding the maximum guy line loads." (4) Reference American Petroleum Institute (API) RP4G Recommended Practice for Use and Procedures for Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Drilling andWell Servicing Structures, Paragraph 14.5 which states "Rig contractor shall be responsible for placing a visible marker on each guy wire." (5) Reference J.E. Shaffer Co. "Come-Along" Hand Power Unit Abatement Documentation is required for this violation.ion