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

a) Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees 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 the recognized hazard of being struck by a falling mast or striking the ground when the mast fell while an employee was up in the mast. On December 9, 2000, the mast of Gulf South Drilling Rig Number 5 fell to the ground with an employee in the top of the mast. The mast was not rigged up in a safe manner because the mast was not bolted to the "A" Frame. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard is to have all derrickmen, drillers, and toolpushers to inspect the lock-in bolts to insure that they were installed correctly and to sign the rig report that they had made the inspection. American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 54, Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, states in paragraph 5.3.2 "Well operations involving the rig shall not be commenced until rig is rigged up in a safe manner." DISCLAIMERS: 1) You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above. 2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases. 3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an appropriate method.