OSHA Inspection: POOL COMPANY TEXAS, LTD.

Issued

Dec 17, 2002

Abate by

Dec 20, 2002

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

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 hazard of being struck by the manual tongs:
(a)  On or about 12-07-02, The employer failed to have someone at the
controls of the
power swivel at all times or have hydraulic pressure positively locked out
when workers were
in the arc of travel of the backup tong.  A crew member was killed when
the power swivel
reversed directions unexpectedly crushing him between the tubing and the
tong safety line.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to  (1)  Ensure employees are clear of the tongs before they are heavily
torqued during both
"making up and "breaking out" activities.  (2)  Establish energy control
procedures, employee
training and periodic inspections to ensure that all employees are clear
of
the tongs when the
unexpected start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause
injury.  (3)  Ensure that
tong safety lines and snub lines are sufficiently short to prevent more
than a one quarter rotation
of the tongs.on