OSHA Inspection: H-S TESTING, INC.

Issued

Apr 9, 2007

Abate by

May 5, 2007

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $525 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that
were causing or
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed
to struck by hazards:
(a)HS Testing, Inc. at Rig 721, Weld CR 59 and 62, Gill, CO 80624:  On or
before
11/17/06, the employer did not ensure that the base mounted winches on
each of 11
trucks were marked with the following identification for each drum:
a)load rating;
b)drum size consisting of barrel diameter, barrel length, and flange
diameter;
c)rope size(s);
d)rope speed in feet per minute (meters per second); and
e)rated power supply.
Condition exposed employees to struck by hazards.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method can be
found in the
American National Standards Institute B30.7-2001 Section 7-1.1.3, as
referenced, in part,
above.

Issued

Apr 9, 2007

Abate by

May 5, 2007

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $525 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that
were causing or
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed
to struck by hazards:
(a)HS Testing, Inc. at Rig 721, Weld CR 59 and 62, Gill, CO 80624:  On or
before
11/17/06, the employer did not ensure that the periodic inspections were
performed
for the base mounted winches on each of 11 trucks, and that dated
inspection records
were made on critical items such as the brakes and ropes.  Condition
exposed
employees to struck by hazards.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method can be
found in the
American National Standards Institute B30.7-2001 Section 7-2.1, 7-2.1.2,
7-2.1.4, and 7-2.4,
which provides for periodic inspections and the recordkeeping associated
with such
inspections.

Issued

Apr 9, 2007

Abate by

May 5, 2007

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $525 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that
were causing or
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed
to struck by hazards:
(a)HS Testing, Inc. at Rig 721, Weld CR 59 and 62, Gill, CO 80624:  On or
before
11/17/06, the employer did not ensure that the base mounted drum hoist was
not
loaded beyond the rated line pull.  The hoist on the International Truck
#1HTAA19E9CHA12780 was pull tested to 4,000 pounds, while the sheaves used
with the line were stamped with a safe working load limit of 3,000 pounds.
In
addition, this hoist had no gauges or other devices to warn the operator
each time a
load approaching the maximum load was being handled.  Condition exposed
employees to struck by hazards.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method can be
found in the
American National Standards Institute B30.7-2001 Section 7-3.2.1, which
provides, "No
hoist shall be loaded beyond the rated line pull, except when testing;"
and Section 7-3.2.2,
which provides, "The operator should be notified each time a load
approaching the maximum
rated load is to be handled so that the brakes can be tested by lifting
the load a few inches
and applying the brakes."

Issued

Apr 9, 2007

Abate by

May 15, 2007

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that
were causing or
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed
to struck by hazards:
(a)HS Testing, Inc. at Rig 721, Weld CR 59 and 62, Gill, CO 80624:  On or
before
11/17/06, the employer did not ensure that all hoisting tools and their
components
were substantially constructed to conform with good engineering practices
and
maintained in safe condition, and that no element in the hoisting tool
system was
subjected to any load in excess of its design limitations.  The employer
did not ensure
that the eyelet, used in connecting the upper sheave to the sandline, was
pull tested,
and equipped with a safety latch or equivalent device to prevent
accidental release of
the load being hoisted or lowered.  Condition exposed employees to struck
by
hazards, fatally injuring one employee.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method can be
found in the
American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 54 Section 9.7, as
referenced, in part,
above.nced,

Issued

Apr 9, 2007

Abate by

May 15, 2007

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that
were
causing or
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed
to struck by hazards:
(a)HS Testing, Inc. at Rig 721, Weld CR 59 and 62, Gill, CO 80624:  On or
before
11/17/06, the employer did not ensure that a safety program was
established that
included the following elements:
1)Instruction of the crew members on work procedures and safe practices,
including ensuring all components of the hoisting system are pull tested
and
rated to conform with hoist system limitations;
2)Instruction on measuring the tension on the hoisting system components;
3)Instruction regarding frequent and periodic inspections and establishing
accountability for such inspections by keeping dated records;
4)The need for regularly scheduled and impromptu meetings of the crew, in
which probable hazards, problems of the job, and related safe practices are
emphasized and discussed;
5)Operational limitations, and the authority to terminate operations when
unsafe
conditions occur; and
6)The need to barricade around the winch, and to inform the employees of
other
companies to maintain a safe distance from the winch.  In addition, when
increasing the hydrostatic pressure up to 6,000 pounds, the need for
employees
to clear the platform floor in case the rubber stops were to suddenly fail.
Condition exposed employees to struck by hazards, fatally injuring one
employee.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method can be
found in the
American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 54 Section 6.1, as
referenced
above, in
part.