R614-2-6. Drilling Industry -- Materials Handling, Storage and Use

A. General Requirements for Storage.

1. All materials stored in tiers shall be stacked, racked, blocked, interlocked, or otherwise secured to prevent sliding, falling, or collapse.

2. Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear to provide for the free and safe movement of material handling equipment or employees. Such areas shall be kept in good repair.

3. Noncompatible materials shall be segregated in storage.

4. Bagged materials shall be stacked by stepping back the layers and cross-keying the bags at least every 10 bags high.

B. Construction and Loading of Pipe Racks.

1. Construction of pipe racks shall be designed to support any load placed thereon.

2. Pipe racks shall be set level laterally on a stable foundation. They may slope front to back to facilitate laying down or picking up pipe.

3. Provision shall be made to prevent pipe, tubular material, or other round material from rolling off pipe racks.

4. No employee shall go between pipe racks and a load of pipe during loading, unloading, and transferring operations.

5. Pipe shall be loaded and unloaded, layer by layer, with bottom layer pinned or blocked securely on all 4 corners, and each successive layer effectively chocked or blocked.

6. Spacers shall be used, and evenly spaced between the layers of pipe or material on the rack.

7. When pipe is being moved or transferred between pipe racks, truck and trailer, the temporary supports for skidding or rolling shall be so constructed, placed, and anchored so as to support the load that is placed on them.

8. During freezing weather, pipe standing on end shall be positioned so as to afford proper drainage.

C. Rigging Equipment for Material Handling.

1. General.

a. Rigging equipment for material handling shall be checked prior to use on each shift and as necessary during its use to ensure that it is safe. Defective rigging equipment shall be removed from service.

b. Rigging equipment shall not be loaded in excess of its recommended safe working load.

2. Wire Ropes.

a. Protruding ends of strands in splices on slings and bridles shall be covered or blunted.

b. An eye splice made in any wire rope shall have not less than three full tucks. However, this requirement shall not operate to preclude the use of another form of splice or connection which can be shown to be as efficient and which is not otherwise prohibited.

c. Except for eye splices in the ends of wires and for endless rope slings, each wire rope used in hoisting or lowering, or in pulling loads shall consist of one continuous piece without knot or splice. Sand lines and winch lines are excluded.

d. Eyes in wire rope bridles, slings, or bull wires shall not be formed by knots.

e. When U-bolt wire rope clips are used to form eyes, The following table shall be used to determine the number and spacing of clips.

f. When used for eye splices, the U-bolt shall be applied so that the "U" section is in contact with the dead end of the rope.

3. Natural Rope and Synthetic Fiber.

Fiber ropes which are cut, frayed (through one or more strands), or that have been in contact with caustic, acid, or any other chemical that might weaken them shall be replaced immediately.

TABLE 2

NUMBER AND SPACING OF U-BOLT WIRE ROPE CLIPS

          Improved plow NUMBER OF CLIPS Minimum

          steel rope Drop Other Spacing

          diameter inches forged material inches

             1/2 3 4 3

             5/8 3 4 3-3/4

             3/4 4 5 4-1/2

             7/8 4 5 5-1/4

             1 5 6 6

             1-1/8 6 6 6-3/4

             1-1/4 6 7 7-1/2

             1-3/8 7 7 8-1/4

             1-1/2 7 7 9

D. Transporting, Moving, and Storing Compressed Gas Cylinders.

1. Valve protection caps shall be in place and secured.

2. When cylinders are hoisted, they shall be secured on a cradle, slingboard, or pallet. They shall not be hoisted or transported by means of magnets or choker slings.

3. When cylinders are transported by powered vehicles, they shall be secured in a vertical position.

4. Valve protection caps shall not be used for lifting cylinders from one vertical position to another. Bars shall not be used under valves or valve protection caps to pry cylinders loose when frozen. Warm, not boiling water shall be used to thaw cylinders loose.

5. Cylinders shall be secured in an upright position and shall be separated in storage as to full and empty cylinders and shall be separated as to contents.

6. No person other than the gas supplier shall attempt to mix gases in a cylinder. No one except the owner of the cylinder or person authorized by him, shall refill a cylinder. No one shall use a cylinder's contents for purposes other than those intended by the supplier.

7. No damaged or defective cylinder shall be used.