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The dangers of drill rig chains and tongs

“Manual pipe tongs are directly responsible for over 10% of all lost time drilling rig accidents,” says leading oil industry site Roughneck City.com.

Tongs and spinning chains are used to turn drilling pipe.

Frequent tong injuries include mashed fingers and hands, being hit by pipe tongs, and shrapnel from small particles of tong die being embedded into the eyes or face because safety goggles were not worn.

Footage of how dangerous tongs and spinning chains are can be seen in this youtube clip from the Tru TV series “Black Gold.”

Further evidence of these dangers is directly quoted from the guide “Drilling Operations Hazards and Controls: An Introduction to All Drilling Rig Crew,” put out by National Petroleum Services:

Under “Setting up the Superstructure”:

Being struck by the crane, load, truck, or forklift tipping
Pinched fingers when assembling equipment
Burns from cutting and welding on the drilling nipple
Temporary eye irritation from welding light flash
Falling from heights

Under “Setting up the Rig Floor & Mast or Derrick”:

Falling or tripping during rigging up.
Falling from rig floor.
Being struck by swinging equipment.
Being struck by falling tools.
Being crushed or struck by equipment due to failure or overloading of hoisting equipment
Getting entangled in lines during raising of the derrick or mast.
Failure to properly install derrick emergency escape device.

Under “Installing Handrails, Guardrails, Stairs, Walkways, and Ladders”:

Falls from ladders.
Falls or slips from ladders and stairs due to damaged or missing rungs or steps.
Slips or falls on walkways due to debris or uneven surfaces.
Falls from heights.
Falling into the mud pit or mixing tank
Failure to properly install derrick emergency escape device.

Under “Installing the Power System”:

Tripping on power cords and hoses.
Slips and falls on slick walking services.
Getting caught in pinch points.
Exposure to chemical hazards.
Being shocked or electrocuted.

Under “Rigging up the Circulating System”:

Being struck by or crushed by equipment being set into place.
Getting caught in pinch points.
Being struck by crane, load, truck or forklift tipping.
Being struck by hammer when connecting mud line unions.

Under “Installing the Auxiliary Equipment”:

Getting struck or pinched by, or caught in between, tubulars being loaded onto racks.
Having feet pinched or crushed when setting up the pipe racks and catwalk.

Under “Inspecting the Rig”:

Falling from the rig.
Tripping on power cords and hoses.
Slipping and falling on slick walking services.

Under “Handling Tubulars”:

Being struck by rolling or falling tubulars.
Being struck by or caught between tubulars and other objects during movement
(for example, being struck by tubulars being tailed into the rig floor).
Slips, trips, and falls.

Under “Preparing Drilling Fluid”:

Burns, or physical injury caused by contact with skin or eyes.
Being exposed to explosions or violent reactions from chemicals mixed improperly.
Being exposed to inhalation hazards.
Receiving strains and sprains.
Slips, trips and falls.

Under “Starting Drilling”:

Being struck by the tongs, the make-up chain, or pipe.
Being caught between collars and tongs, spinning chain, and pipe.

Under “Preparing to Breakout Pipe”:

Pinching fingers or other body parts between slips or slip handles and rotary table.
Experiencing muscle strain from improper lifting technique.
Pinching fingers when latching the tongs onto the pipe.

The list above represents just a few of the dangers listed in the 108 page guide.

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