OSHA Inspection: J CLEO THOMPSON

Issued

Jan 5, 2009

Abate by

Jan 8, 2009

Penalty

Initial $875 · Current $875

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 14, 2008, and for a period of time prior to that date,
employees of J. Cleo
Thompson were operating a workover rig pulling pump rod from Well # 67 in
the Fuhrman
Mascho Unit, University Lands, Block 9, Andrews County, Texas. This rig
had no cotter pins
(also known as cotter keys) inserted into the locking pins that secured
the lower mast section to
the base of the rig. These pins were thus not secured from becoming
dislodged by stress from
wind loads, load stress, or vibration. Employees were thus not fully
protected from the hazards
of a mast collapse.
A feasible abatement for this condition would be to insert a cotter pin or
other
retaining device
in the holes of the locking pins.