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Guarding Kelly bushings on oil drilling rigs

Summary An OSHA regional office asked when Kelly bushings on oil drilling rigs needed guards. OSHA said smooth bushings with no contact or entanglement hazard did not, while bushings with hazardous projections or indentations had to be guarded; compliance officers should assess each site. OSHA archives the memo.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1980-02-21
Date issued
February 21, 1980
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Oil Gas Drilling Machine Guarding
Source
View the official document

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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

February 21, 1980

MEMORANDUM FOR: GILBERT J. SAULTER
Regional Administrator

THRU: ROGER CLARK
Field Coordinator

FROM: GROVER C. WRENN
Director Federal Compliance and State Programs

SUBJECT: Kelly Bushings on Oil Well Drilling Rigs

REF: Kelly Bushings on Oil Well Drilling Rigs, November 26, 1979

As stated in my memorandum dated June 19, 1979 (copy attached), Kelly Bushings on oil drilling rigs that are smooth and do not present a potential hazard to employees that might come in contact with the bushings or be pulled into the bushing do not require guarding. However, Kelly Bushings with projections or indentations can present a potential hazard to employees who could come in contact with the bushing or could be pulled into the bushing by a chain, wire, hose, etc., which may become entangled with the bushing. Under such circumstances, the bushing shall be guarded or employers shall be appropriately cited.

The enclosed photographs of Kelly Bushings cannot be properly evaluated for potential hazards. Compliance officers must determine whether Kelly Bushings present a potential hazard on a case by case basis as observed during inspections at the job sites.

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