OSHA Inspection: EXXCEL WELL SERVICE, INC.

Issued

Feb 14, 2011

Abate by

Feb 24, 2011

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $4,000

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:
Exxcel Well Service, Inc., Rig #17 Herren 58, Well #4, Martin County,
Texas.  For the
period of time up to and including August 19,2010, employees were exposed
to burn hazards
due to the two fire extinguishers were not maintained in proper working
condition.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
this hazard may
include: following American Petroleum Institute (API) 54, Recommended
Practice for
Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing
Operations, requirements to
ensure that at least two, 20-pound capacity fire extinguishers with a
Class
BC rating are
accessible and in operating condition at a well servicing rig.
"Pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.19(d), the employer must provide documentation
that this
violation has been abated within 10 calendar days after the abatement date.

Issued

Feb 14, 2011

Abate by

Feb 22, 2011

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $4,000

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:
Exxcel Well Services, Inc., Rig #17 Herren, 58, Well #4, Martin County, 5
Miles West of
Knott, Knott, Texas. For the period of time up to and including August 19,
2010, the employer
did not ensure that the employees performed work operations such as
bleeding the well in a safe
manner. Employees bled pressure and a mixture of fluids such as oil, gas
and water (1) to an
open steel pit which was not designed to prevent the escape of gas, (2)
without
first ensuring that
there were no ignition sources in the area of the pit, and (3) without
ensuring that employees of
other contractors were informed that the pressure release was going to be
performed. This
condition exposed employees to fire/explosion hazards.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
this hazard may
include:
1. Ensure that employees conduct a job hazard analysis (JSA) on site with
contractors.
2. Establish and implement a procedure for inspecting and maintaining the
well service pits.
3. Ensure that the well service pits are inspected and maintained to
ensure that they are
working properly.
"Pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.19(d), the employer must provide documentation
that this violation
has been abated within 10 calendar days after the abatement date.