Case Name: GREY WOLF DRILLING COMPANY L.P., Rig 865, Petitioner, v. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION; Elaine Chao, Secretary, Department of Labor, Respondents
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-03-08
Citations: 89 F. App'x 458
Docket Number: No. 03-60508
Parties: GREY WOLF DRILLING COMPANY L.P., Rig 865, Petitioner, v. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION; Elaine Chao, Secretary, Department of Labor, Respondents.
Judges: Before JOLLY, DUHÉ, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 89
Pages: 458–459

Head Matter:
GREY WOLF DRILLING COMPANY L.P., Rig 865, Petitioner, v. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION; Elaine Chao, Secretary, Department of Labor, Respondents.
No. 03-60508.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
March 8, 2004.
Neil G. Martin, Faye L. Rodman, Gardere Wynne Sewell, Houston, TX, for Petitioner.
Ray H. Darling, Executive Secretary, Occupational Safety Health Administration, Howard M. Radzely, Bruce Foster Justh, Lee Gary Grabel, US Department of Labor, Washington, DC, for Respondents.
Before JOLLY, DUHÉ, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
We affirm the final order of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission ("the Commission") upholding a citation issued to Grey Wolf Drilling Company, L.P. ("Grey Wolf'), for the following reasons:
First, although the arguments of Grey Wolf were well-presented and vigorously argued, we nevertheless find substantial evidence to support the Commission's conclusion that Grey Wolf violated the "general duty clause" of the Occupational Health and Safety Act by failing to furnish a place of employment free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious injury to employees. 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1). In reaching this conclusion, we have taken into account Grey Wolfs vigorous contention that the use of a "swamper" in these circumstances would not have constituted a more effective means of abatement than the precautionary measures already in effect at the time of the accident. That argument has some force, especially given the peculiarities of this particular accident. However, we find substantial evidence in the record to support the Commission's findings that instead of the "swamper" riding inside the unloaded wench truck, the "swamper" walking outside on the passenger side at the rear of the vehicle when it is in reverse motion is a feasible means of abating the risks of a "struck-by" hazard.
Second, we hold that the petitioner's contention that it is entitled to the affirmative defense of employee misconduct fails in this case. As an element of such a defense, Grey Wolf must demonstrate that it had a safety program in place that adequately addressed the hazard at issue. For the reasons stated above, Grey Wolf does not satisfy this element here.
Accordingly, we affirm the final order of the Commission in all respects.
AFFIRMED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the Court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.