OSHA Inspection: DAVE'S TUBING, TESTING AND HOT OIL SERVICE, INC.

Issued

Jan 27, 2004

Abate by

Jan 30, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer does not
always furnish employment and a place of employment which are free from
recognized hazards
that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
are exposed to the condition(s) listed below:
On or about 08/31/03, one employee was injured, and later died, and others
were exposed to
the following combination of hazards:  An employee parked a Hot Oiler
service truck downwind
and 15-feet from the well head.  A second vehicle (Dodge Pickup) parked
next to (5 - 7 feet)
the Hot Oiler.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
the hazards would
be:
1.  The operator's representative in charge should hold a pre-job meeting
with the crew
and other involved personnel to review the operations to be performed.
2.  All trucks and tanks should be located a minimum of 100 feet upwind
from the
wellhead, or equivalent safety measures should be taken where terrain,
location, or other
conditions do not permit.  At locations where this recommendation may be
impractical,
appropriate safety measures should be implemented.
3.  All lines connected from the pumping equipment to the wellhead should
have a check
valve installed as close to the well as practicable.  In addition, when a
multi-pump manifold is
used, a check valve should be placed in each discharge line as close to
the manifold as possible.
4.  Personnel not directly involved in the operations should remain beyond
a designated
minimum distance during all pumping operations.
5.  Pump operators should remain at the controls while the pump is in
operation, unless
relieved as directed by the special services supervisor.  Pump operators
should
remain alert for
communications from the special services supervisor.
6.  While pumping flammable fluids, electrical equipment and internal
combustion
equipment not used in performance of the job should be shut down (shut
off) and all fires should
be extinguished.  At locations where this recommendation may be
impractical, appropriate safety
measures should be implemented.
7.  When pumping flammable fluids, all charged suction hoses should be
covered with
hose covers to deflect fluids in case of rupture.