Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck by hazards: (a)Frontier Drilling, LLC & Rig # 3 County Rd 352, Rifle, CO 81650: On or before July 19, 2007, the employer did not secure (tether) a 2" circulating chicksen swivel with a chain or cable clamped to the derrick or mast leg to prevent it from falling. The employer connected a chicksen swivel to a swedge, with the swedge connected to a 40 foot long 5 1/2 inch casing pipe. The chicksen swivel was not connected to a 2 inch high pressure rotary hose on the other end. The travelling block raised the casing pipe and chicksen approximately 40 feet to make the last joint. When the power tongs turned the casing pipe, the chicksen swivel came into contact with the bails, which backed the swedge out of it's threaded connection. The swedge and chicksen seperated from the casing pipe and fell to the floor below, striking the company man on the back of the head, resulting in a fatality. The condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards. man, on the back of the head. The condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards. Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Sample Abatement Certification Letter"). Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is stated in API Recommended Practice 54, Section 9.7.7, which provides that, "The pump end of the rotary hose should be securely fastened to the derrick or mast by a cable or by chain clamped to the hose and to the derrick or mast leg. The swivel end of the hose should be secured by a similar cable or chain, with the other end of the cable or chain affixed to the swivel." In addition, Section 9.2.1.3 provides that, "Tools, parts, and other materials shall not be kept in the derrick or mast above the rig floor unless they are in use and precautions are taken to prevent them from falling." Abatement Note: All chains, cables, and connecting parts to e.g. sheaves are required to be rated or pull tested to ensure these parts can handle loads placed on them, along with an appropriate safety factor.