Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: UNAPEQUIP

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 fire and explosion: At this inspection site, on December 20, 2006, and at other times prior thereto, the auxiliary escape line was installed in an unsafe manner and included the following visible deficiencies: a.A securely anchored one-half inch wire rope escape line was not attached to derrick or mast so as to provide a ready and convenient means of escape from the Derrickman's working platform. b.The Emergency Escape Device was installed on the wire rope escape line which was secured to a ring that had been welded to the top of a steel pipe in the North side guardrail system which permitted the upside down "T" bar to be below the walking surface of the pipe racking board. c.The one-half inch wire rope escape line was approximately thirty-seven feet short and would not assure a safe landing and allow the Derrickman to stop twenty to twenty-five feet from the anchor point. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method involves the employer ensuring the emergency escape line system is installed in accordance with American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 54 (3rd Edition; August 1999) Section 6, Sub-Section 6.10, Paragraph 6.10.1 and Geronimo Manufacturing Operators Manual guidelines.