OSHA Inspection: TEX-LEE OPERATING COMPANY

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $4900.00

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 hazard of being struck-by the mast, counterweights and other various parts of the workover rig.    On or about February 20th, 2013, and at times prior thereto, Tex-Lee Operating Company failed to use proper rigging techniques, repair or replace damaged wire rope, maintain support connections and secure all counterweights above the rig floor with a safety line as described in the following instances:  a) Guywire ropes had broken and crushed wires, kinking and corrosion evident throughout the rope and especially at/near the turn back. b) Guywire ropes did not have thimbles installed to prevent damage to wires at the turn back.  c) One support wire rope for the monkeyboard was broken.  d) One support wire rope for the derrick floor had only one wire rope clip installed after the turn back and the support was terminated by a length of chain that was tied to the ladder rung. e) The climb assist wire rope and counterweight were not secured with a safety chain (or safety line) anchored to the derrick or mast.  Among others, feasible and acceptable methods to correct these hazardous conditions include implementing a thorough training program (American Petroleum Institute (API) RP 54 Section 1.3 1999 ed.; and Association of Energy Servicing Companies (AESC) Safe Procedures for Oil and Gas Well Servicing Section II Health and Safety Procedures 2008 ed.); implementing proper wire rope installation, service and removal (AESC Safe Procedures Section X Guywires and Other Rope 2008 ed.); and implementing procedures to ensure derricks, masts, counterweights and their auxiliary parts conform to good engineering practices and are maintained in a safe condition (API RP 54 Section 9 Drilling and Well Servicing Rig Equipment Parts 9.2.1; 9.2.10; 9.2.12; 9.2.17; and 9.3.13)

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $1200.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards:Note:  Toeboards are only required when persons can pass, there is moving equipment or there is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.   On or about February 20, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that the work platform on the SkyTop work over rig had guardrails installed, exposing employees to a fall hazard over 4 feet.

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $2000.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.26(c)(2)(iv): Ladder(s) were not maintained in a good usable condition at all times.  On or about February 20, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that the Werner 16 foot Extension ladder Model D 716-2 was maintained in a usable condition, exposing the employees using the ladder to a fall hazard of approximately 4 feet. The ladder in use was only half of an extension ladder, with bent/missing rungs and a hole in the siderail.

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.26(c)(2)(vi)(d) The employer did not ensure that ladders exposed to oil and grease, were kept cleaned of oil, grease, or slippery materials.  On or about February 20, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that the Werner 16 foot Extension ladder Model D 716-2 was kept clean of oil, grease and slippery materials, exposing the employees using the ladder to fall hazard of approximately 4 feet.

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.26(c)(3)(iii): Ladders were used on surfaces which did not provide a secure footing:  On or about February 20, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that the Werner 16 foot Extension ladder Model D 716-2 was set up with a secure footing, exposing the employees using the ladder to fall hazard of approximately 4 feet.

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $2800.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(e): Defective or damaged personal protective equipment was used.  On or about February 20, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that the personal protective equipment was in serviceable condition in two instances, exposing employees to a fall hazard up to approximately 60 feet.    Instance a) The Lewis Derrick Belt webbing, lining and stitching on the belt were damaged.    Instance b) The snap hooks used to attach the derrick belt to the climb assist were damaged; the gate locks were non-functional.

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1): The employer did not provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use PPE.  Each such employee shall be trained to know at least the following:  i)  When PPE is necessary;  ii)  What PPE is necessary; iii)  How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE; iv)  The limitations of the PPE; and, v)  The proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of the PPE.  On or about February 20, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that each employee required to use the Lewis Derrick Belt had received training on the belt, exposing the employees to a fall hazard of approximately 60 feet.

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $2800.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(f)(3): Accident prevention tags - Use. Tags were not used to prevent injury to employees exposed to hazardous conditions and hazards that were not readily apparent. Tags shall be used until such time as the identified hazard is eliminated or the hazardous operation is completed. Tags need not be used where signs, guarding or other positive means of protection are being used.  On or about February 20th, 2013, Tex-Lee Operating Company failed to use accident prevention tags to identify an overhead hazard in that the climb-assist counterweight was removed from its guide and was not secured with a safety line. The counterweight experienced an uncontrolled fall when its wire rope suspension was unhooked. This overhead hazard was not readily apparent.

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $2000.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o  On or about February 20, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that the pulleys on the Bendix TuFLo 1000 Air Compressor were guarded. Employees working near the compressor could get caught in the unguarded belt and pulley pinch points.

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i): Horizontal belts which had both runs 42 inches or less from the floor level were not fully enclosed by guards conforming to requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  On or about February 20, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that the belts on the Bendix TuFLo 1000 Air Compressor were guarded. Employees working near the compressor could get caught in the unguarded belt and pulley pinch points.

Issued

2013-07-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $1000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(i): Conductors entering cutout boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not protected from abrasion, and openings through which conductors enter were not effectively closed:    On or about February 20, 2013, and at times prior thereto, electrical wires on the Well-Guard 480 Volt control box were not protected from abrasion in that the conduit was not attached to the box, thereby protecting the conductors and enclosing the entry hole for the wires.