Working Surface Safety

Stair and Handrail Safety

  1. Upon rig up of a land rig, the stairs should be securely fastened as soon as they are set in place and before use by personnel.
  2. Every flight of stairs with more than four risers should be equipped with a standard stair railing.
  3. A stair railing should be between 30” (77cm) and 34” (86cm) high when measured from the upper surface of the handrail to the surface of the stair tread in line with the leading edge of the riser. Stair handrails should include a middle rail.
  4. Stair handrail posts should not be more than 5 feet (86cm) apart.
  5. Stairs must have an angle to the horizontal between 30 and 50 degrees.
  6. Riser heights and treads must be uniform throughout each flight of stairs. This includes the distance between the surface of the top step and the top surface of the landing as well as the top of the bottom step and the ground or deck. The amount of rise should be in proportion to the angle to horizontal.  Refer to the IADC HSE Reference Guide for details.
  7. Treads should be reasonably slip resistant and in portion with the angle to horizontal. Refer to the IADC HSE Reference Guide for details.
  8. Open grating treads are recommended for outside stairs.
  9. Avoid having long flights of stairs. Provide intermediate landings or platforms when necessary.
  10. Vertical clearance from the leading edge of a tread to an overhead obstruction must be at least seven feet (215cm).
  11. All steps should be well-lighted for after-dark safety.
  12. All handrails and railings must provide a clearance of at least 3 inches (7.62 cm) between the rail and any other object.
  13. Do not ascend or descend steps without having at least one hand on the handrail.
  14. Do not slide down the stairs with legs on handrails.
  15. Treads that become bent out of shape should be straightened or replaced as soon as possible.
  16. Steps should be kept clear of ice and snow in the wintertime.
  17. Heavy loads should not be moved up or down steps by one person. Use of the rig floor winch is recommended.

Walkway Safety

  1. Keep walkways clear—free from protruding nails, splinters, holes, and loose boards, etc.
  2. Guard open-sided walkways that are at least 4 feet high with a standard railing. A standard rail consists of top rail, middle rail and posts, and is 42 inches high from top of top rail to floor, and the middle rail is half way in between.
  3. A stair railing should be between 30 and 34 inches high with a middle rail.
  4. Railing posts should be no more than 8 feet apart.
  5. Installed railings of all types must be anchored and strong enough to withstand at least 200 pounds applied in any direction to the top rail.
  6. A standard toe board must be at least 4 inches high, must be securely fastened, and has a clearance from the floor of not over 1/4 inch.
  7. There should be no opening in floors or walkways over 1 inch in size (longest dimension).
  8. Walkways should be smooth and level. There should be no tripping hazards along a walkway.
  9. There should be no low overhead hazards above a walkway.
  10. Mud pit walkways should be well-anchored, level, and free of holes and/or tripping hazards.  Standard railings should be provided on pit walkways.