OSHA Inspection: ALCORN WELL SERVICE, INC.

Issued

May 6, 1992

Abate by

May 12, 1992

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

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)  Inadvertent rotating motion of sucker rods and projecting
attachments, such as 24-inch pipe wrenches, while twisting the sucker
rods into an oil well at Prosky Number Two, on or about January 13,
1992.  One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others,
to correct this hazard is to provide a written procedure to control
employee exposure to this motion which includes, but is not limited
to the following:
(1)  Incorporating the use of a wheel-type wrench,
constructed free of projections and rough edges on the rim, or a
back-off wrench and power tongs with snubbing line to prevent spinning
movement;
(2)  Prohibiting the operator(s)' hands or other body parts
in areas where they may be struck by or caught in the equipment, such
as in the wheel's spokes;
(3)  Using a level platform or other walking and working
surface, free of objects over which employee(s) must step to use the
equipment;
(4)  Training in the hazards of the operation.