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

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees: At a worksite located at Elk & Road 340, in Gove County, KS 67736 at SE-NW-SW-NE Section 9, Twp. 14 S. R. 30 W, the employer exposed employees operating a hoisting system, called the draw works, on an oil drilling rig to the recognized hazard of being struck by a suspended load when the employer allowed the employees at the draw works control to work adjacent to loads being lifted. This most recently occurred on May 5, 2022, when a steel drilling collar was being hoisted by the draw works. The drilling collar was approximately 24 ft. long and weighed approximately 1,986 lbs. The draw works was equipped with a manually operated cathead spool, a pulley-type device powering the rope lifting line to which the load was attached. The configuration of the draw works control on the rig platform placed the operator close to the lifting line and, consequently, close to the loaded being lifted. As the load was being lifted, the rope to which it was attached broke, and the load fell and struck the employee operating the cathead spool at the draw works control. The employee later died because of his injuries. The draw works control was not equipped with a protective guard called a "headache post". The lack of guard exposed personnel at the draw works control, including the decedent, to the hazard of being struck by a load being lifted. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of abatement are: Comply with American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice 54, Fourth Edition, Section 7.4.4(h) which states: "a headache post or guard shall be provided for protection of personnel at the draw works control when the line is close to the operator during operations of lines powered by the cathead spool."