OSHA Inspection: L & G PUMPING UNIT SERVICE, INC.

Issued

Sep 13, 2005

Abate by

Dec 30, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,500

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:
a) Sixmile Draw, Lease Well #1-4, Ft. Stockton, TX; On or about 5-25-05 a
Lufkin pumping
unit, model number C320D-305-100, serial number C30254-F-311919, was not
disassembled
according to the manufacturer's specifications, American Petroleum
Institute (API) RP 54
guidelines and/or general industry practice. The oil pumping unit was in
the process of being
disassembled when the counter-weights unexpectedly rotated downward
crushing an employee
to death. The employer did not secure the counter-weights. The employer
had not established
and/or implemented an energy control program consisting of energy control
procedures to ensure
that prior to servicing and/or maintenance operations machinery and/or
equipment was isolated
or otherwise rendered inoperative.
Among other methods, one method of abatement is to ensure that employees
follow the
specifications and/or instructions referenced in the  operator's manual
and sections 1.3, 6.8, 6.9
and 11 of API RP 54, Third Edition, 1999.