OSHA Fatal Facts, Oil Patch No. 2-2012

U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

ACCIDENT SUMMARY Accident Type: . .............................Struck by, falling object, suspended load BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT Weather Conditions/Time of Day: .............................. Cold, snowy/Day shift At the time of the accident, six employees Type of Operation: . ............................................................. Pulling well casing were working on a double mast service Size of Work Crew: ..............................................................................................6 rig. The service rig was pulling a 4.5 inch Worksite Inspection Conducted by Employer: . ........................................ Yes casing from the gas well after completing Competent Safety Monitoring on Site: ....................................................... No the first stage of an open hydraulic fracture. Safety and Health Program in Effect: ......................................................... Yes An experienced rig hand was standing Training and Education for Employees: . .................................. Not adequate under the load block when the load line Job Title of Deceased Employee: .......................................................Rig hand failed. The load block struck the rig hand, Age/Sex of Deceased Employee: . .............................................................31/M inflicting blunt force trauma to his upper Time on Job: . ............................................................................................5 years torso, resulting in fatal injury. The load line Short Service Employee (<1 Year): ............................................................... No was a 6x40 7/8” diameter wire rope that had Time at Task: . ........................................................................................... 7 hours been in service for about 3 years. The load line was in poor working condition and had several broken wire strands. Additionally, the load line was contacting the guard for the draw works as evidenced by the heavy wear marks on the guard. Although the company reportedly lubricated the load line routinely, the line was found to be rusted, dry and brittle during the investigation after the incident.

Location of failed 7/8” load line.

Wear marks in draw-works guard from failed line.

Rope and sheave condition. Note the wear in sheave from failed line. Failed 7/8” load line close-up. Note the broken wire strands.

ACCIDENT PREVENTION You Have a Voice in the Workplace 1. Perform daily visual inspections and monthly inspections of The Occupational Safety and Health Act all hoisting lines. See API Recommended Practice (RP) 54, of 1970 affords workers the right to a safe Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing workplace (see OSHA’s Worker Rights page, Operations – Paragraph 9.6.1. www.osha.gov/workers.html). Workers also 2. Follow the field lubrication requirements from the wire rope have the right to file a complaint with OSHA manufacturer. Make sure to use an appropriate (e.g., wire rope if they believe that there are either violations manufacturers’ recommended) lubricant that penetrates and of OSHA standards or serious workplace adheres to the wire rope. See API RP 9B, Application, Care, and hazards. Use of Wire Rope for Oilfield Services – Paragraph 3.3.9. which How OSHA Can Help states, “Periodically, therefore, the rope will need to be lubricated. For questions or to get information or When necessary, lubricate the rope with a good grade of lubricant advice, to report an emergency, report a which will penetrate and adhere to the rope, and which is free fatality or catastrophe, or to file a from acid or alkali.” confidential complaint, contact your nearest 3. Implement a slipping and cut-off preventive maintenance program OSHA office, visit www.osha.gov or call our for hoisting lines. See API RP 9B – Section 6, Slipping and Cutoff toll-free number at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), Practice Abatement. TTY 1-877-889-5627. It’s confidential. 4. Perform service life calculations based on ton-mile limits. See API RP 9B – Section 5. More Information 5. Immediately remove damaged lifting lines from service. See API Upstream oil and gas safety and health: RP 54 – Section 9.6. www.osha.gov/SLTC/oilgaswell 6. Provide worker training emphasizing the following: drilling/index.html a. wire rope inspection criteria (what to look for); OSHA standards and regulations: b. preventive maintenance requirements for wire rope; and www.osha.gov/law-regs.html c. how to identify, prevent and protect themselves against struck by, falling object, and suspended load hazards on the rig floor. OSHA publications: www.osha.gov/publications OSHA’s free On-site Consultation services: www.osha.gov/consultation Training resources: www.osha.gov/dte/index.html

Note: The described case was selected as being representative of improper work practices which likely contributed to a fatality from an accident. The accident prevention recommendations do not necessarily reflect the outcome of any legal aspects of the incident case. OSHA encourages your company or organization to duplicate and share this information.

DEP FF-3615 12/2012