Proforma Safety Blog

Rig Crewman Killed When Sand-line Drum Clutch Lever Engaged

Posted by proforma on September 27, 2011  |  No Comments

After a completions rig crew had installed a set of flags to the rig sand line, the perator reached into the drum area to help retrieve a pipe wrench for one of the rig floor crewmen. His stomach came in contact with and engaged the sand-line drum clutch lever, resulting in the drum turning several revolutions and killing one of the rig crewmen. For details, click on this report.

Home Fires Primarily Due to Cooking

Posted by proforma on September 18, 2011  |  No Comments

Cooking fires are the leading cause of home structure fires and home-fire injuries says this recently released report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Most of these were from food or food apparatus catching fire.

NFPA’s advice:

Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking. If you leave, be sure to turn off the stove.
Check frequently anything that you’re baking, boiling or simmering. Do not leave the house.
Ensure nothing is on or near the stove top that would easily ignite.

If something does catch on fire:

Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking in order to smother grease fires. If a grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the lid on until everything cools.
If an oven fire begins, shut off the oven and keep the oven door closed.
Do not try to fight the fire yourself (59 percent of non-fatal injuries happened when victims tried to snuff the flames on their own).
Leave the house and call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

Also, check out your stove and oven in Consumer Reports before purchasing to ensure you’re informed of potential hazards.

And speaking of home fire hazards, this month’s Consumer Reports warns of a recall of 30-pint dehumidifiers made by LG Electronics Tianjin Appliance Co., which have a dangerous electrical flaw that pose fire and burn hazards. Read the alert here.

Lengthy Process to Establish Drilling Safety Standards Anticipated, Says Administration

Posted by proforma on September 11, 2011  |  No Comments

Houston Chronicle reported Sept.9, 2011, that a top adminstration official said the U.S. government will initiate a long process for setting new offshore drilling safety standards after the joint federal investigation into the Deepwater Horizon is completed.

Bureau of Labor Stats for 2010 Show No Improvement over 2009

Posted by proforma on September 11, 2011  |  No Comments

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary report on fatal occupational injuries for 2010 showed unfortunately that the number of workplace fatalities showed virtually no improvement over 2009. American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) President Terrie S. Norris says this should be a call for action, especially given these economically challenging times when workers can be at greater risk. For details, click here.

Worker Falls from Height; Failed to Clip Off

Posted by proforma on July 24, 2011  |  No Comments

An IP suffered compound leg fractures after falling from a precarious position straddling a pair of parallel pipes while fixing a beam clamp and chain block. Although wearing a safety harness, the IP had failed to clip off. Read the details here.

Welders Ignite Foam Sealant; Smoke Out Storeroom

Posted by proforma on July 24, 2011  |  No Comments

Welders ignited expanding foam sealant in a rig’s storeroom while trimming a guidepost. The workers had failed to anticipate what effect their work might have on the materials. The incident produced significant smoke damage, but fortunately no loss of life or equipment. Read the details here.

Lead in Pipe Dope Can Contaminate Workers’ Homes

Posted by proforma on July 24, 2011  |  No Comments

Pipe dope, found at many oilfield sites, is a threading compound that often contains high amounts of lead. Not only is the lead dangerous for oilfield workers; they also transport the lead home where children can be exposed.

Pipe dope is difficult to remove from clothing and can be transferred to the employee’s car or home. According to this article in EHS, using oil-resistant gloves can help avoid contamination, as will washing your hands, showering at the workplace and changing clothes after handling pipe dope. Work clothes should not be washed with the family’s laundry.

Better yet, lead free pipe dope should be substituted.

Diabetics At Higher Risk During Hot Weather

Posted by proforma on July 24, 2011  |  No Comments

Whether a loved one has diabetes, or you have employees who suffer from the disease, you’ll want to advise them of dangers associated with hot weather. Diabetes makes it harder for your body to handle high heat and humidity. Air pollution also poses increased risk of heart attack or stroke.

Blood glucose levels are affected by heat, increasing the absorption of insulin, requiring diabetics to test blood glucose more often and regulate their intake of food and liquids.

Read an excellent article on the CDC website.

Whole Lotta Shaking Loosens Equipment on Derrick

Posted by proforma on July 5, 2011  |  No Comments

Everything on the derrick floor should be carefully inspected to ensure it’s properly retained, and all equipment, whether temporary or permanent, should have secondary retention. That’s the learning from this incident, in which a speaker was shaken loose from the back of the monkey board, breaking loose from its mounting post.

DOE Endorses New Global Energy Efficiency Standard ISO 50001

Posted by proforma on July 5, 2011  |  No Comments

A new global energy efficiency and energy management standard, ISO 50001, has just been recognized by the Department of Energy (DOE) as a framework for continuous energy performance improvements and a way for companies to save money in building and industrial facility energy costs. Read details here.