OSHA Inspection: FIVE STAR CONSOLIDATED CO., LTD.

Issued

Nov 13, 2002

Abate by

Nov 18, 2002

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,900

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 the condition(s) listed below:
Five Star Consolidated, Co., Ltd., 2 miles West of Welch, TX on US 83,
Welch, TX, North
Welch Unit, Well #2603.  For the period of time up to and including
09/30/02, the employer
did not follow the American Petroleum Institute's (API) Recommended
Practices for
Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations
(RP54-99) which
states well operations involving the rig shall not be commenced until the
rig is rigged up in a
safe manner.  Employees were exposed to the hazard of collapse of the
derrick mast resulting
from the improper erection of the PEMCO Model 96-180-C work-over rig,
identified by the
employer as Rig #5.  Employees "rigged-up" in order to service an existing
oil
well.  Employees
failed to ensure the locking "dogs" were secured prior to beginning work.
When pressure was
put upon the derrick, the upper portion of the mast fell down, causing the
hydraulic cylinder to
bend outside of the mast, striking an employee, causing fatal injuries.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
this hazard:
a.  Ensure proper erection procedures are followed.
b.  Rig Field Supervisors arrive on site unannounced after rigging up has
been complete to
verify "dogs" have been tagged.
c.  The check list used by the operator should have a line to remind the
operator to "visually
check and flag the dogs prior to operating".