904 Oil and Gas Well Inspection

Hose Safety Restraints

Oil well rigs use high-pressure hoses for air, mud, hydraulic fluids, and other materials. Workers must secure these hoses to prevent whipping if a connection fails.

Workers on oil well rigs use hobbles, whip checks, hose chokers, and slings to secure high-pressure hoses and pipes. These devices prevent dangerous whipping or uncontrolled movement if a connection fails. Workers must inspect them regularly to ensure safety. According to OSHA guidelines, all pressurized hose connections need restraints, and operators must check them for wear.

Inspections

Conduct inspections to ensure that hoses used around the rig are properly snubbed (restrained) to prevent injury should the fitting fail and the hose whip out of control.

Hoses longer than 3 feet should have secondary restraint if they are:

• High pressure, high volume hoses (for example: rotary hoses, vibrating hoses, cement hoses, circulating hoses)
• Compressed gas hoses (air hoses 3/4 inches and larger, nitrogen transfer / service hoses)
• Energized fluid lines (steam hoses, water blasting, test pump lines)

Hobbles

Hobbles are secondary restraints used on high-pressure hoses. They help control the hose if it disconnects under pressure, preventing dangerous whipping. Include the following items when inspecting hobbles:

• Clamp placement: Ensure clamps are installed at the manufacturer-marked locations, equally spaced from the coupling.
• Anchor point: Confirm the hobble is connected to a secure, rated structural anchor— not to handrails, piping, or corroded structures.
• Condition of components: Inspect clamps, cables, or chains for cracks, wear, corrosion, or distortion. Remove from service if damaged.
• Overhead clearance: Check that restraints do not interfere with moving lines, tugger lines, or equipment.
• Coupling clearance: Make sure the hobble is not installed over the hose coupling, as this may cause restraint failure.

Hose Chokers

Hose chokers are also called cable chokers. These woven nylon or cable systems tighten around the hose during failure. They handle much higher pressures, up to thousands or tens of thousands of PSI.

They grip tighter to control or stop flow. Workers use hose chokers most often on oil well rigs, especially for high-pressure applications common in drilling and fracking. The are a top choice for restraining high-pressure hoses to prevent blowouts that harm workers or equipment. They outperform basic whip checks in extreme oilfield conditions.

Inspect hose chokers before each use to ensure they are in safe working condition. These checks are critical in high-pressure applications such as oil and gas drilling or fracking.

• Frayed or broken wires – Check cable chokers for damaged strands or broken wires.
• Torn or worn webbing – Inspect woven chokers for cuts, fraying, burns, or abrasion.
• Corrosion or rust – Look for rust on metal parts, especially near clamps or fittings.
• Loose or damaged clamps/fittings – Ensure all hardware is tight and undamaged.
• Stretching or deformation – Replace chokers that show signs of overstretching.
• Proper placement and fit – Confirm the choker is positioned and sized correctly on the hose.
• Missing tags or labels – Ensure product labels (if applicable) are present and readable.
• Contamination – Remove mud, oil, or chemicals that may affect grip or weaken materials.
• Secure anchoring – Attach only to rated anchor points (not handrails or piping).
• Signs of previous failure – Discard any choker that has been exposed to a blowout or hose failure.

Always follow the manufacturer’s inspection and replacement guidelines.

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