R 408.15719 Auxiliary escape.

Rule 5719. (1) A means of escape shall be rigged and secured to provide a safe and readily accessible escape route from the derrick board before operations commence which require a crew member to be on the derrick board, excluding stabbing boards or other temporary platforms. (2) The emergency escape route shall be kept clear of obstructions. The escape equipment shall be arranged to carry the crew member away from the wellbore or drilling floor and to permit a safe landing. (3) If an escape line is used as the means of escape, all of the following provisions apply: (a) The ground anchor point of the escape line shall be located a minimum lateral distance from the derrick or mast equal to the height above the ground where the connecting point of the escape line is secured to the derrick or mast. (b) Tension of the escape line shall be periodically checked and adjusted to assure a safe landing for the user of the escape line. A safe landing means that a user using a manually operated braking emergency escape unit will stop a minimum of 20 feet from the anchor point and a user using an automatic velocity-limiting device or controlled-descent device will stop a minimum of 5 feet from the anchor point. (c) Each employee regularly assigned to work from the derrick board shall be provided with an escape line. CONSTRUCTION