OSHA Inspection: PATRIOT WELL SOLUTIONS LLC

Issued

Feb 15, 2019

Abate by

Mar 25, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,472 · Current $7,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  The employer did not furnish employment and 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 caught in-between and amputation hazards:      a)  Patriot Well Solutions LLC, County Road 24 and Highway 14, Walden, CO 80480:  On or before 12/08/18, an employee was exposed to caught in-between and amputation hazards when replacing the packing seal around a plunger on a MSI Hybrid twin quintuplex pump, model Q2H1000SX3R2002, Serial number B582558.  An employee was handling the packing nut, and placed his hands inside the cylinder bore hole while the pump was running.  Another employee stroked the plunger by turning it online and offline, resulting in crushing the left hand and fingers of an employee between the plunger and the packing nut.        Among other feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard includes:    1)  Follow the MSI Hybrid Manufacturers Manual for quintuplex pumps, which states in section 9.2 Replacing Fluid End Plunger and Packing, "Caution:  Do not perform any service on the fluid end until you have verified that there is no pressure in the discharge system, the suction charge pump is off and isolated, and suction pressure has been relieved. A closed valve near the discharge can trap pressure between the discharge and the closed suction valves of the pump. Bleed off this pressure before continuing. Do not perform service on the fluid end with the engine drive running.  If there is a bladder-type pulsation dampener on the system, either isolate it or bleed the nitrogen pressure from the bladder.  Failure to follow these precautions can lead to serious injury."     2)  Follow the employer's Work Instruction for Repacking 600 Short Fluid Pump, Document number GT-USA-CT-002, which includes, "Isolate and bleed off the fluid end needing the packing, as well as shut down and LOTO the respective engine/power source."