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Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14412951

HEAD,STUCK,WORK RULES,OIL WELL SERVICING,STRUCK BY,HAND TOOL

Event
HEAD,STUCK,WORK RULES,OIL WELL SERVICING,STRUCK BY,HAND TOOL
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14412951
Report ID
627400

Event description

Employee killed when struck by spinning wrench

Investigation abstract

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on or about October 30, 1987, Employee #1 and coworke rs were trying to release a mechanically-held rod string that had been put back down a hole. The operator was matching the string weight while a floorhand was r unning the take-up tongs on the rod string. They were turning right and stopped to release some of the torque. When Employee #1 grabbed a 36 in. pipe wrench and put it on the rod, the wrench was jerked out of his hands and he was pitched fo rward. The wrench then spun around with the rod as the torque was released, stri king him across the back of the head. As he fell, the wrench struck him again ab ove the ankles. Employee #1 was killed instantly.

Victim

  1. #1 Fatality Age 20 M

    Nature of injury
    6
    Part of body
    13
    Event type
    1
    Source
    22
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

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