OSHA Inspection: ARIES WELL SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Nov 21, 2008

Abate by

Nov 26, 2008

Penalty

Initial $875 · 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 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) On August 13, 2008, employees of Aries Well Services, Inc. were
swabbing a well operated
by Fasken Oil and Ranch Ltd.- Well #1, Fee AA lease, located on Sec. 21,
Block 40, T-1-S,
T & P Railroad Survey, Midland County, Texas. The lower anchor points of
the folding mast
on the swabbing unit were held in place by pins that were not secured by
any form of safety
catch. These employees were thus exposed to the hazards of being caught
underneath falling
machinery in the event that these pins worked loose, thus allowing the
mast to become unstable
while under load and collapse. API RP - 54, 3rd Edition, 1999, Section
9.2.1
states that
"Derricks, masts, and their auxiliary parts shall be substantially
constructed to conform to good
engineering practice and maintained in safe condition."

Issued

Nov 21, 2008

Abate by

Nov 26, 2008

Penalty

Initial $875 · Current $525 Reduced