Maintenance activities include inspecting, adjusting, and servicing on equipment such as drawworks, rotary, catheads, tongs, air hoists, and wire rope.

Potential Hazard

• Slips, trips, and falls.

Possible Solutions

• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (such as hard hats, work gloves, safety shoes, and eye protection).
• Be aware of the slipping and falling hazards when performing maintenance on the drilling floor.
• Keep all work areas clean and clear of oil, tools, and debris.
• Use non-skid surfaces where appropriate.

Potential Hazards

• Being caught in chains or other moving equipment.
• Getting fingers and hands pinched in machine guards or covers.
• Receiving sprains and strains.

Possible Solutions

• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (such as hard hats, work gloves, safety shoes, and eye protection).
• Use proper lockout/tagout procedures. [29 CFR 1910.147]
• Seek assistance when moving awkward and heavy guards and covers.
• Maintain all machinery free of leaks by regular preventive maintenance and repairing when necessary.

#36. Drawworks

The hoisting mechanism on a drilling rig. It is essentially a large winch that spools off or takes in the drilling line and thus raises or lowers the drill stem and bit.^†

#51. Rotary Table

The principal component of a rotary, or rotary machine, used to turn the drill stem and support the drilling assembly. It has a beveled gear arrangement to create the rotational motion and an opening into which bushings are fitted to drive and support the drilling assembly.

Note the pipe spinner (in red) on the side of the swivel.^†

#29. Cathead

A spool-shaped attachment on a winch around which rope for hoisting and pulling is wound.^†

The drilling line is the steel wire rope reeved through the crown block and traveling block. It must be inspected, slipped and cut regularly.

Potential Hazards

• Receiving injuries to face and eyes from flying chips of metal when slipping and cutting the line.
• Being caught in moving equipment.
• Slips, trips, and falls.
• Being struck by drilling line.

Possible Solutions

• Use proper lockout/tagout procedures. [29 CFR 1910.147]
• Wear appropriate personnel protective equipment when cutting line.
• Attach a red flag or other warning device to the drawworks clutch lever as a reminder to the driller whenever the crown safety device is moved or deactivated to allow the traveling block to be raised above the the preset stopping point.
• Secure drilling line ends prior to cutting.

3. Drilling Line

A wire rope hoisting line, reeved on sheaves of the crown block and traveling block (in effect a block and tackle). Its primary purpose is to hoist or lower drill pipe or casing from or into a well. Also, a wire rope used to support the drilling tools.^†

 

Visually inspect wire ropes daily or per maintenance schedule.

Potential Hazards

• Getting cuts from the wickers or loose strands on the rope.
• Receiving injuries to face and eyes from flying chips when cutting wire rope.

Possible Solutions

• Wear appropriate personnel protective equipment when cutting wire rope.
• Seize wire rope before cutting.

Maintenance activities include inspecting, adjusting, servicing on equipment such as mud pumps, hoses, hose connections, pop-off valve, shale shakers, belts, and guards.

Potential Hazards

• Being caught between, or struck by equipment.
• Slips, trips, and falls.
• Receiving a foreign body or fluid in the eye.
• Burned by fluid contact.
• Drowning in mud tank/pit.
• Receiving strains and sprains.

Possible Solutions

• Use proper lockout/tagout procedures.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (such as hard hats, work gloves, safety shoes, and eye protection).
• Be aware of the slipping and falling hazards when working on the mud circulating system.
• Provide guardrails and guards around mud tanks.

#16. Mud Pump

A large reciprocating pump used to circulate the mud (drilling fluid) on a drilling rig.^†

#21. Shale Shaker

A series of trays with sieves or screens that vibrate to remove cuttings from circulating fluid in rotary drilling operations. The size of the openings in the sieve is selected to match the size of the solids in the drilling fluid and the anticipated size of cuttings. Also called a shaker.^†

 

Electrical connections and power cords need to be checked for wear for deterioration and replaced if needed. Electric motors need to be serviced at recommended intervals. All guards should be present and correctly installed and motors electrical connections need to be kept sealed.

Potential Hazard

• Receiving flash burns or shocks when servicing motors, generators, and breaker panels.

Possible Solutions

• Do not wash down generators, electric motors and breaker panels with water hose.
• Use proper lockout/tagout procedures.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Avoid wearing jewelry.
• Do not stand directly in front of breakers when operating.
• Use dielectric mat in front of control panel or breaker panel.

Potential Hazard

• Being caught in moving equipment.

Possible Solutions

• Avoid wearing jewelry.
• Use proper lockout/tagout procedures.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Cover with appropriate shields or guards all exposed revolving parts such as belts, flexible drives, generators, shafts and other moving parts to prevent contact and injury.

Additional Information

• OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages:
  • Electrical
  • Machine Guarding

Engines require servicing at recommended intervals.

Potential Hazard

• Getting burned by hot fluids or engine parts.

Possible Solutions

• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Let engine cool down before working on it.
• Use proper lockout/tagout procedures.

Potential Hazard

• Being caught in moving equipment or moving parts.

Possible Solutions

• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Use proper lockout/tagout procedures.
• Cover all exposed revolving parts with appropriate shields and guards.

#13. Engine Generator Sets

A diesel, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), natural gas, or gasoline engine, along with a mechanical transmission and generator for producing power for the drilling rig. Newer rigs use electric generators to power electric motors on the other parts of the rig.^†

Maintenance activities in the derrick consists of lubricating the swivel, traveling block, and crown block, and replacement of swivel packing.

Potential Hazard

• Getting caught between equipment and objects.

Possible Solution

• Use proper lockout/tagout procedures.

Potential Hazard

• Falling from heights.

Possible Solution

• Use appropriate fall protection.

Potential Hazard

• Being struck by falling tools or equipment.

Possible Solutions

• Wear appropriate personnel protective equipment.
• Minimize the number of personnel working on the rig floor.
• Tie off tools.

#58. Swivel

A rotary tool that is hung from the rotary hook and traveling block to suspend and permit free rotation of the drill stem. It also provides a connection for the rotary hose and a passageway for the flow of drilling fluid into the drill stem.^†

#5. Traveling Block

An arrangement of pulleys or sheaves through which drilling cable is reeved, which moves up or down in the derrick or mast.^†

Drilling Rig Components^†

1. Crown Block and Water Table

An assembly of sheaves or pulleys mounted on beams at the top of the derrick. The drilling line is run over the sheaves down to the hoisting drum.^†