OSHA Inspection: MERCER WELL SERVICE RIG #30

Issued

2007-10-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2007-10-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3000.00 · Current $1800.00 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:
On or about Aug 14, 2007, at the well-head being serviced by Mercer Well
Service Rig #30 approximately 1/2 mile north of Goforth Road near Kilgore,
TX, two
employees used a pipewrench to "torque a stand valve".  The employees used
a 24
inch "Ridgid" pipe-wrench to apply torque to a string of oil well
sucker-rods
approximately 2500 feet deep. The handle of the pipe wrench slipped away
from the
hands of an employee, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck
during its
recoil.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this
hazard include, but are not limited to:
1.  Establish a new Job Hazard Assessment for the use of a rod wheel known
as  the
"Ratigan Wheel".
2.  Require that two employees use the rod wheel when applying torque to
vertical
sucker-rods in wells.-rods