Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: EXPLOSION

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 fire or explosion: Employee was exposed to the hazard of fire or explosion due to the improper rigging of the geronimo escape device: a.Geronimo escape device being rigged on the outside of the south corner of the pipe racking board 120 feet above ground level with no means of safe access to the geronimo emergency escape device, i.e. employee would have to go through unguarded opening in the outside guardrail on the pipe racking board and climb up and across the exterior of the outside guardrail 6 feet to the south corner of the pipe racking board in order to use the geronimo escape line. b.The geronimo escape line was installed improperly, i.e. in such a manner which allowed for excessive slack which is greater than the manufacturer's recommended 6 feet maximum. c.The geronimo escape line was anchored improperly, i.e. geronimo escape line was wrapped around the upper rear steel pipe support for a steel platform 8 feet above ground level with several half hitches and the end of the line secured to the live line with one Crosby clamp. This occurred on or about November, 3, 1995 on Trans Texas Gas Corporation Rig #32. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be installation of a properly rigged and secured emergency descent device or other satisfactory auxiliary means of egress, such as specified in Section 5, Sub-Section 5.7, Paragraph 5.7.1 of American Petroleum Institute (API) RP54-92, Page 12. Essential elements of this procedure would include: 1.Staking out a securely anchored one-half inch wire rope escape line attached to the derrick or mast so as to provide a ready and convenient means of escape from the derrickman's working platform. 2.The escape line route is to be kept clear of obstructions. 3.A safety device is to be provided to permit fast emergency exit from the derrickman's working platform to a safe place. 4.The tension on the escape line is to be periodically checked and adjusted to assure a safe landing and to allow the derrickman to stop 20 to 25 feet from the anchor point. 5.The ground anchor point of the escape line is to be located a minimum lateral distance from the derrick or mast equal to the height above ground level to the point where the escape line is fastened to the derrick or mast.