R614-2-1. Drilling Industry -- Administrative Provision

A. Agency.

Labor Commission, Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

B. Authority.

Title 34A, Chapter 6, Utah Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973.

C. Scope.

1. Section 34A-6-202 establishes the authority, method, and procedures for issuance of standards by the Administrator of UOSH. The standards contained herein govern safety and health for the drilling industry and related services.

2. The UOSH Administrator, following a significant number of inspections of drilling activities, has found many issues unique to the industry which require they be addressed separately and apart from the Utah Rules and Regulations General Industry Standards.

3. Further, the collection of statistical inferences by the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Statistical division indicates a substantial need for occupational safety and health standards for drilling and related services.

D. Effective Date.

January 15, 1980.

E. Variance From Safety and Health Standards.

Variances from standards which are or may be published in this part may be requested under Subsection 34A-6-202(2)(d) of the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973. Procedures for the granting of variances or related relief are those published as R614-1-9.

F. Adoption of Existing Standards.

The provisions of this part adopt and extend the applicability of R614 and 29 CFR 1910 and 29 CFR 1926.

G. Inspections--Right of Entry.

1. It shall be a condition of each place of employment where work is performed that the Administrator of the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Act or any authorized representative shall have the right of entry to any site for the following purposes:

2. To inspect or investigate the matter of compliance with the safety and health standards contained in the General Industry Standards and the Oil, Gas, Geothermal and Related Services Standards.

3. For the purpose of carrying out his investigative duties under the Act, the Administrator of the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Act may, by agreement, use with or without reimbursement, the services, personnel, and facilities of any state Agency.

H. Duties of Employers and Employees.

Section 34A-6-201 defines duties of employers and employees.

I. Safety Training and Education.

1. The Administrator of the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Act shall establish and supervise programs for the education and training of employers and employees in the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of unsafe conditions in employments covered by this act.

2. Employer Responsibility.

a. The employer should avail himself of the safety and health training programs the Administrator provides.

b. The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environments to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.

c. In job site areas where harmful plants or animals are present, employees who may be exposed shall be instructed regarding the potential hazards, and how to avoid injury, and the first aid procedures to be used in the event of injury.

J. Reporting Requirements.

Shall meet the requirements of R614-102-13.

K. Incorporation by Reference.

1. 29 CFR 1910 and 1926 and standards of the American National Standards Institute, National Fire Protection Association, National Electrical Code, and other consensus standards are incorporated by reference, or when referenced in this UOSH standard, shall have the same force and effect as other standards, rules, or regulations.

2. Consensus standards and any changes in the referenced standards are available for examination at the Occupational Safety and Health Division, Labor Commission, as listed in the current public telephone directory.

L. General Drilling Rules.

1. Surface casing shall be run to reach a depth to prevent blowouts or uncontrolled wells. In areas where pressures and formations are unknown, surface casing shall be of sufficient size to permit the use of an intermediate string or strings of casing. Surface casing shall be set in or through an impervious formation and shall be cemented by the pump and plug or displacement or other approved method with sufficient cement to fill the annulus to the top of the hole. If cement is not circulated to surface during the primary operation, the drilling owner/operator shall perform cemented operations to assure that the annular space from the casing shoe to the surface is filled with cement.

2. The cemented casing string shall stand under pressure until the cement has reached a compressive strength of 300 pounds per square inch; providing, however, that no further operation shall be commenced until the cement has been in place at least 8 hours. The term "under pressure" as used herein shall be complied with if one float valve is used or if pressure is otherwise held.

3. Setting depths of all casing string shall be determined by taking into account formation fracture gradients and the maximum anticipated pressure to be maintained within the well bore.

4. If and when it becomes necessary to run a production string, such string shall be cemented by the pump and plug method, and shall be properly tested by the pressure method before cement plugs are drilled.

5. Natural gas which may be encountered in a substantial quantity in any section of a cable-tool drilled hole above the ultimate objective shall be shut off with reasonable diligence either by mudding or casing, or other approved method and confined to its original source. Any gas escaping from the well during drilling operations shall be, so far as practicable, conducted a safe distance from the well site and burned in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Environmental Quality Department of the State, or otherwise safely disposed of.

M. Site Clearing and Roads, General Requirements.

1. Employees engaged in site clearing shall be protected from hazards of irritant and toxic plants, and suitably instructed in the first aid treatment available.

2. All equipment used in site clearing shall be equipped with rollover guards in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.1000. In addition, rider-operated equipment shall be equipped with an overhead and rear canopy guard meeting the following requirements:

a. The overhead covering on this canopy structure shall be covered with not less than 1/8 inch steel plate or 1/4 inch woven wire mesh with openings no greater than one inch or equivalent.

b. The opening in the rear of the canopy structure shall be covered with no less than 1/4 inch woven wire mesh with openings no greater than one inch.

3. On single lane private roads with two-way traffic, arrangements shall be provided with adequate turnouts. Where adequate turnouts are not practical, a control system shall be provided to prevent vehicles from meeting on such single lane roads.