Note: The special service supervisor should hold a pre-job meeting with the special service crew and
other involved
personnel to review responsibilities and coordinate the operations to be performed.
Rig Up - Spotting and assembly of equipment to perform cementing or pumping operations.
Potential Hazards:
Being struck by moving vehicles.
Being exposed to potential ignition and respiratory hazards.
Overexerting, or getting sprains and strains.
Being exposed to pinch points (for example, hammer union wings and hammers, pump iron and racks).
Being hit by flying particles.
Falling from heights.
Slips, trips, and falls.
Being struck by falling equipment.
Possible Solutions:
Preplan equipment locations and use a spotter(s) to position equipment out of fall lane of the derrick and
upwind of vapor and gas sources.
Use mechanical lifting aids, proper lifting techniques, and team lifting where appropriate.
Use proper hand and body positioning.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment including fall protection and respiratory protection.
Conduct a pre-job inspection to identify, then eliminate or correct hazardous work surfaces.
Require all non-essential personnel to stand clear.
Secure all elevated lines.
Pumping - Executing the job
Potential Hazards:
Being struck by high pressure lines or unexpected release of pressure (due to, mismatched or excessively
worn hammer unions, line failure).
Being exposed to chemical hazards (such as, silica, toxic liquids, and gases).
Being exposed to high noise levels.
Slips, trips, and falls.
Overexerting, or receiving sprains and strains while handling materials (such as sacks and buckets).
Possible Solutions:
Direct all non-essential personnel to stand clear.
Require pump operator to stay by the controls.
Conduct adequate pressure tests on pump(s) and lines before pumping. [RP 54, Recommended Practice for
Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, Wireline Service. American Petroleum
Institute (API), (2007, March)].
Hobble high-pressure lines properly.
Use proper equipment inspection techniques to include hammer unions (Note: This is a particular problem
with 602 and 1502, as they will couple but will not hold beyond the lower pressure rating number).
o
High Pressure Lines and Hammer Unions. International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC)
Alert 98-01, (1998).
More On Mismatched Hammer Unions. International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC)
Alert 99-33, (1999).
Additional Serious Incidents With Mismatched Hammer Unions. International Association of Drilling
Contractors (IADC) Alert 00-15, (2000).
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (for example, respiratory, skin, and hearing) for the
hazards present.
Conduct a pre-job inspection to identify, then eliminate or correct hazardous work surfaces.
Use mechanical lifting aids, proper lifting techniques, and team lifting where appropriate.
Rig Down - Disassembly and demobilization of equipment
Potential Hazards:
Being struck by moving vehicles.
Being exposed to potential ignition and respiratory hazards.
Overexerting or receiving sprains and strains.
Being exposed to pinch points (such as, hammer union wings and hammers, pump iron and racks).
Being hit by flying particles.
Falling from heights.
Slips, trips, and falls.
Being struck by falling equipment.
Possible Solutions:
Use a spotter(s) to direct equipment movement.
Use mechanical lifting aids, proper lifting techniques, and team lifting where appropriate.
Use proper hand and body positioning.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment including fall protection and respiratory protection.
Conduct a post-job inspection to identify, then eliminate or correct hazardous work surfaces.
Require all non-essential personnel to stand clear.
