OSHA Inspection: MONCLA WELL SERVICE

Issued

Apr 4, 2001

Abate by

Apr 16, 2001

Penalty

Initial $4,900

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was free from
recognized hazards
that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that
employees were exposed to the recognized hazard of being struck by pipe
while going into the
well bore of a well using a work string of pipe and elevators that were
substandard.
a)  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct the
hazard would be the careful inspection of the work string and elevators by
an
authoritative individual who would eliminate any faulty tools and pipe
from the work
site.  The Association of Oilwell Servicing Contractor's (AOSC)
Recommended Safe
Procedures and Guideline for Oil and Gas Well Servicing states in the 1988
edition on
page 46, paragraph 25, that "Unsafe or defective tools are not to be used.
DISCLAIMERS:
1)  You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above,.
2)  The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all
cases.
3)  The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate method.