Saudi Aramco

Drilling & Workover Organization

March 2022
The Alerts are provided to all Drilling and Workover Operations Foremen and Liaisonmen so that we all learn from the experiences of
others. The knowledge of this incident could prevent similar ones from happening in the future.
Saudi Aramco policy requires the information in this Alert to be communicated to all crew members and documented on morning reports.

What happened?
Total Incidents/ Events Related to
An analysis was done for the period of Hammering Operations
2020 - YTD Feb 2022, and showed a total 392
of 1137 incidents which involved 305
slipped, broken, and others types such as 164 145

(missed, swung, and dropped hammers). 26 27 22 52

4
64 cases out of the mentioned total Slipped Broken Other (Missed,
incidents resulted in injuries. 83% of Swing, Fall & Other)
injuries represent low risk potential and 2020 2021 YTD-Feb 2022
17% of injuries represent medium risk.
Therefore, DOE&CD would like to raise
Hammer Recordable Injures
safety awareness about practicing
precaution steps when dealing with 4 Cases, 6%

hammers and minimizing these incidents. 7 Cases, 11%

Consequences:
 Serious injuries to workers. 53 Cases, 83%
 Property damages.
 Operations interruptions. FAI MTC RDI

What should be done to prevent

Risk Potential of Injury Cases
recurrence?
83%
 All workers must perform a pre-use
visual inspection of all hand tools
(such as hammer, etc.) when using
them for the first time during tour 17%

to ensure they are free from defects

or deficiencies and are properly
Low Medium High
equipped with any guard or safety
 accessory required by Aramco standards. This is an undocumented
inspection (HSERM, 8.A).
 Use the correct tool for the task. All tools and equipment must be well
maintained. Homemade tools are prohibited. (HSERM, 18).
 All hand tools that could be used at a height of six (6) feet or greater, shall
have a securing tether attached. (SWIM, 21).
 All tools, hand and power, and similar equipment, whether furnished by SA
or by a contractor, shall be kept in good operating condition. (SWIM, 48.1).
 Sledge hammers having a square face shall not be used. (SWIM, 48.4).
 One sledge hammer shall never be struck against another sledge hammer;
both tools are brittle steel and may shatter (SWIM, 48.5).
 Visual inspection of Hammer Union Lugs/impact points and any
“Mushrooming” identified shall result in removal from service (SWIM, 48.6).
 Wooden handles of tools shall be kept free from splinters or cracks and shall
be kept tight in the tool, and only wooden or fiber glass handle may be used
on impact hand tools such as hammers and sledge hammers, metal handles
are not permitted (SWIM, 48.8).