Inspection Detail

Inspection: 123398992 - Patterson-Uti Drilling Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Fort Worth Area Office

Inspection Nr: 123398992

Report ID: 0636900

Date Opened: 09/25/2002

Site Address:
Patterson-Uti Drilling Co.
Fm 730 & County Rd 4181
Decatur, TX 76234

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1416, Snyder, TX 79550

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:1381

NAICS: 213111/Drilling Oil and Gas Wells

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: Y

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 11/25/2002

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 11/25/2002

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	100712454

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 200711828

Event: 09/24/2002

Employee Is Killed When Struck by Oil Rig Tong

Employee #1 was part of an oil well crew team. He was adding a joint of drilling pipe to the drill string during normal drilling operations when a coworker, who had just been shown by the driller how to use the driller's operational console, began operating the rig. The coworker stopped the rotary so Employee #1 could break the connection between the kelly and the drill string. After the connection was broken, Employee #1 began moving the tongs to the mousehole, while the coworker operating the rig attempted to raise the kelly so it could be moved to the mousehole and connected to the next joint. In the process, the coworker engaged the breakout cathead instead of the drum hoist. This activated the tong, which struck Employee #1 on the head, killing him.

Keywords: HEAD, OIL WELL DRILLING, INEXPERIENCE, STRUCK BY, TONGS, OIL RIG

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	123398992			Fatality	Fracture	Drillers, oil well

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