Big River Drilling: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Dec 11, 2010: Employee is injured by drilling rig rotating drive shaft

On December 11, 2010 in Riverdale, CA, Employee #1, a driller's assistant, was i njured when his shirt became entangled in water well drilling rig's pump drive s haft. This caused him to be thrown against the truck. During the Division of Occ upational Safety and Health (DOSH) investigation, Employee #1 alleged that he re ceived a report that the water pump gland packing was leaking. Employee #1 alleg edly used an open end wrench to tighten the packing. Employee #1 asserted he was wearing thermal underwear under a short sleeved T-shirt. Employee #1 allegedly reached toward the packing, and his right bicep contacted the pump's rotating dr ive shaft. Employee #1's shirt became entangled in the shaft. The employer had a well devised safety program, including a policy to shut down the rig when any a djustments, maintenance or repairs were required. Employee #1's eighth rib on th e left side of his rib cage was fractured, and Employee #1 suffered pulmonary co ntusion and abrasions on his upper torso. Employee #1 was hospitalized for less than 24 hours, and his injuries were not considered serious or life threatening. On December 13, 2010, the Big River Drilling's insurance agent notified DOSH of the injury. The DOSH drilling rig inspection raised questions as to why Employe e #1 came into contact with the rotating shaft, since the gland packing adjustin g nuts were easily accessible. The drive shaft was accessible with some difficul ty. Employee #1's injury would require climbing on to the pump and working over the top, rather than standing on the ground. Employee#1's employer received cons ideration for penalty and classification for violation of requirements related t o the employer's Injury and Illness Prevention Program, lack of body protection and guarding of moving parts of machinery/equipment.