Fall critically injures worker at rig off state Highway 1

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/NEWS03/804160361/1062/NEWS03

Fall critically injures worker at rig off La. 1

Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials today will visit an oil and gas drilling site where a worker was critically injured Tuesday.

Everett Cobbs, 28, was in critical condition at LSU Hospital in Shreveport after being flown from the site off state Highway 1 south of Shreveport in Caddo.

Cobbs was climbing down the rig owned by Sandia Drilling LLC when he fell 40 to 90 feet, hitting the deck. He was wearing safety gear, according to a report from the Caddo sheriff's office.

Cobbs' father also was working on the rig at the time. His brother, also a Sandia employee, was in the crew's sleeping quarters when the accident happened.

Jack Scaggs, a representative of Sandia, said Tuesday he'll try to find out more about what happened. "The family members were pretty distraught."

Scaggs is among company representatives who will meet with OSHA officials this morning.

OSHA conducts routine drilling rig inspections and visits drill sites after accidents or in response to complaints about safety. OSHA's online inspection reports between 2003 and Tuesday do not include visits to rigs operated by Sandia.