OSHA Inspection: UNION PACIFIC RESOURCES CO.

Issued

Jan 8, 1991

Abate by

Jan 9, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

General-duty citation text

SECTION 5(A)(1) OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT OF 1970: THE
EMPLOYER DID NOT FURNISH EMPLOYMENT AND A PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WHICH WERE
FREE FROM RECOGNIZED HAZARDS THAT WERE CAUSING OR LIKELY TO CAUSE DEATH
OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM TO EMPLOYEES IN THAT EMPLOYEES WERE EXPOSED TO:
A) THE HAZARD OF BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR CRUSHED BY FALLING
COUNTERWEIGHT ARM AND WEIGHTS OF THE LUFKIN MARK II PUMPING
UNIT IN THAT ON OR ABOUT 9/26/90 AND AT TIMES PRIOR THERETO,
AT THE ARAPAHOE UNIT 160, ON SECTION 16, TOWNSHIP 14 SOUTH,
RANGE 42 WEST, LOCATED IN CHEYENNE COUNTY, COLORADO, SOUTHEAST
OF ARAPAHOE, COLORADO, THE COUNTERBALANCE ARMS AND WEIGHTS OF
THE LUFKIN MARK II PUMPING UNIT WERE NOT SECURED IN A FASHION
RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE BREAK LEVER NEAR THE
SAMPSON POST WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO PREVENT THE LEVER FROM GOING
BEYOND THE LAST RATCHET ON THE BRAKE.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD IS TO
SECURE THE CONTERWEIGHT ARM WITH A CHAIN, SET THE BREAKRATCHET, AND
PROPERLY ADJUST THE OPERATIONS BRAKE LEVER.