OSHA Inspection: WELLCO OIL SERVICE (LYN-MAR, INC. DBA)

Issued

Jun 26, 1992

Abate by

Jul 1, 1992

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

cc:  AMOCO PRODUCTION COMPANY
ATTN:  Mr. Richard L. Wilkinson
P. O. Box 4000
Levelland, TX  79336
"The following alleged violations have been grouped because they
involve similar or related hazards that may increase the potential for
injury resulting from an accident."
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:
Rig #29, located in the Prentiss Field, Amoco well number 127A:
The employer did not protect the derrick man from the
recognized hazard of falling from an elevation in that he
allowed the employee to ascend the derrick structure without
personal protective equipment in the form of a safety belt
and lanyard.  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable
abatement method to correct this hazard would be to ensure
the derrick man wore one of the available safety belts and
lanyards before ascending the derrick structure once the center
line has been established and upon reaching their destination
in the derrick to tie off to part of the frame work and avoid
the derrick man's fall should he lose his footing.

Issued

Jun 26, 1992

Abate by

Jul 1, 1992

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:
Rig #29, located in the Prentiss Field Amoco well number 127A:
The employer did not, through his representative, the operator,
protect the derrick man from the recognized hazard of falling
from an elevation in that he did not control the derrick man's
movements when a problem occurred in the workover rig after
raising the derrick.  The derrick man ascended the derrick
structure to an elevation of approximately fifty-five feet
and remained there without the protection of a safety belt
and lanyard tied off.  The derrick man fell to the ground and
was fatally injured.  Among other methods, one feasible and
acceptable abatement method would be for the operator to
analyse the situation before allowing an employee to be exposed
to a hazard.