OSHA Inspection: JOHNSON INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Mar 5, 2004

Abate by

Apr 21, 2004

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

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:
On or about 09/16/03, one employee was fatally injured and others were
exposed to the
following combination of hazards:  the hazard of "bumping" the
counterweights to the upright
position while placing a spacer on the polishing rod;  the hazard of not
providing an employee
who had been working for less than two weeks with adequate training prior
to working in the
oil field;  the hazard of not informing employees of the dangers
associated with standing under
a moving load;  the hazard of not securing the horse head to the walking
beam prior to
"bumping" operations began;  the hazard of not having a written standard
operation procedure
for placing a spacer on the polishing rod.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
the hazards would
be:
1)  Provide all employees training addressing the hazards they may
anticipated in the oil
field prior to employees engaging in oil field activity.
2)  Implement a written procedure to instruct employees of acceptable
company methods
to conduct oil field activities.
3)  Ensure the horse head is secured and properly attached to the walking
beam at all
attach points prior to beginning any operation that would result in
providing slack in the wire
line hanger.
4)  Use a gin-pole truck (or the equivalent) to move the counterweights to
the upright
position and secure the weights such that they will remain in the upright
position in the event
of a failure or an accidental release of energy.