Safety Alerts
IADC distributes HSE Alerts to Members as they are received. All Alerts issued will be archived on this web site. We welcome your ideas for future Safety Alerts.
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This material is presented for information purposes only.
Managers & Supervisors should evaluate this information to determine if it can be applied to their own situations and practices.
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 25 Full Body Harness Safety WHAT HAPPENED: A rig crew was tripping drill pipe into the hole. The elevators were coming up through the
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 24 The Millennium Bug WHAT HAPPENED: On 1 January 2000, every computer — and computer chip — in the world will need to recognize
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 22 Lightning Protection WHAT HAPPENED: Lightning struck a drilling rig, causing a failure of the electronic Pit Volume Totalizer (PVT) system. One mud pump was
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 21 Welding Shop Trash Cans WHAT HAPPENED: A garbage can located in the welding shop of an offshore rig caught fire. The can was
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 20 Flush Mounted Slips WHAT HAPPENED: A contractor encountered an incident involving the use of Flush Mounted Slips (FMS), which resulted in the release of
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 19 Fall Protection WHAT HAPPENED: After being released from a daywork contract, the crew was preparing to move the rig to a new drill
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 18 Crane Rig-Up/Rig-Down Safety WHAT HAPPENED: While it was being dismantled, a portable crane fell on an offshore platform. Three contractor employees were seriously injured
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 17 Crew Boat Safety WHAT HAPPENED: A crewmember on a crew boat was doing a routine checkup below deck. With workers on the open
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 16 Stored Energy Hazards WHAT HAPPENED: A rig worker was seriously injured when the cap at the end of a top drive accumulator blew
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 15 Trapped Fluid Hazards WHAT HAPPENED: A motorman was removing a threaded two-inch to one-inch swedge from a two-inch ball valve and nipple. The swedge
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 14 Bolt Breakage WHAT HAPPENED: While pulling out of the hole, both brake band anchor bolts failed. The elevators were about six feet (two meters)
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 09 BOP Fall Protection WHAT HAPPENED: A rig worker recently fell while working on a BOP. He was wearing a full body harness with
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 08 Running Casing Safely WHAT HAPPENED: While running 5 1/2” casing, the driller observed the derrickman placing his hands and fingers on top of
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 07 Potential for Fire: Air Compressors WHAT HAPPENED: A semi-submersible MODU experienced a fire and explosion in its machinery equipment space due to an internal
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 06 Forklift Safety WHAT HAPPENED: A senior rig toolpusher was operating the rig forklift. He discovered a hydraulic leak after he had raised the load
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 05 Exposure to Noise WHAT HAPPENED: Here are some examples of exposures to noise measured by an operator
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 04 Radio Frequency Radiation Hazards WHAT HAPPENED: API RP54 states: “Precautions should be exercised in explosive operations to prevent radio frequency radiation hazards. Warning signs
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 32 Fatality – Crane Accident WHAT HAPPENED: An accident during crane operations occurred on an offshore platform tender drilling rig resulting in fatal injuries to
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 31 Drilling Breaks WHAT HAPPENED: A drilling rig experienced a chain of events, which could have resulted in a loss of well control. The
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 30 Family Passports WHAT HAPPENED: A Senior Tool pusher had a massive heart attack on the overseas rig to which he was assigned. He was
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 29 Power Line Safety WHAT HAPPENED: While moving a rig, a forklift was being used to transport a small desanding motor. Instead of putting the
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 28 Crew Change Communications WHAT HAPPENED: An incident occurred on a rig where 420 feet (128 meters) of tubing was dropped in the well
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 27 Energy Lock-Out Procedures WHAT HAPPENED: A rig worker was adjusting the front rollers on a set of pipe spinner power tongs. When the
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 23 High Pressure Hose Safety WHAT HAPPENED: A high-pressure top-drive rotary hose ruptured under a pressure of 3000 psi. The hose fell to the
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 13 Mud Logger Explosion & Fire WHAT HAPPENED: A Mud Logging Unit was in the final phase of rig up when an explosion and
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 12 Cutting Drilling Line WHAT HAPPENED: A rig worker was in the process of cutting drilling line. The 500-ton blocks had been hung on
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 11 Improper Use of Hand Tools WHAT HAPPENED: A workover rig crew was tripping in the hole with specialized shouldered production pipe. The pipe procedure
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 10 Pressure Washing Safety WHAT HAPPENED: A rig worker was using a high-pressure steam cleaner to wash between the drawworks motors when he slipped and
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 03 Adjustable Pipe Wrenches WHAT HAPPENED: A lost workday accident occurred while rigging up wireline equipment. The wireline contractor was using a 24″ iron pipe
6 May 1998
Alert 98 – 02 Kelly Wear and Damage WHAT HAPPENED: While making a connection in the mousehole to continue drilling, the driller was spinning the kelly to
