Alert 09 – 29 Improper Use of Drill Pipe Spinner Results in an MTO
WHAT HAPPENED:
A powered drill pipe spinner and chain tong were being used to make a connection of 5” DP in the mouse hole. The drilling crew placed the drill pipe spinner on the lower joint of 5” drill pipe and a back up chain tong on upper joint and got ready to make up the connection. When an employee inadvertently energized the spinner, the other employee, who was holding the backup chain tong, lost his grip on the chain tong allowing it to swing toward the power spinner operator, hitting him on the left ear and temporal region.