OSHA Inspection: BACKYARD ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS LLC

Issued

Jun 8, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,376 · Current $7,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(3): The employer did not ensure that walking-working surfaces are maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice.  On or about December 20, 2022, at the hopper/shaker platform, drilling mud was present on walking-working surfaces including but not limited to the following which exposed employees to slip and fall hazards: a.	Stairs b.	Platform c.	Hopper

Issued

Jun 8, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i): Except as provided elsewhere in this section 29 CFR 1910.28, the employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  On or about December 20, 2022, at the shaker/hopper platform, a partial side of the platform lacked guardrails and exposed employees to falls greater than 4 feet to a lower level.

Issued

Jun 8, 2023

Abate by

Jul 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $7,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(4):  When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:  On or about December 16, 2022, and at times prior to, a written permit space entry program was not implemented when employees entered frac tanks that previously held diesel fuel extracted from drilling mud, exposing employees to potentially hazardous atmospheres and slip hazards.

Issued

Jun 8, 2023

Abate by

Jul 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(g)(1):The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit required confined spaces) acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146:  On or about December 16, 2022, and at times prior to, permit-required confined space training was not provided to employees who entered a frac tank that previously held diesel fuel extracted from drilling mud exposing employees to potentially hazardous atmospheres and slip hazards.

Issued

Jun 8, 2023

Abate by

Jul 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(2):Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees entered:  On or about December 16, 2022, and at times prior to, the hazards of a frac tank that previously held diesel fuel extracted from drilling mud were not identified and evaluated before employees entered the frac tank exposing employees to potentially hazardous atmospheres and slip hazards.

Issued

Jun 8, 2023

Abate by

Jul 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(3)(i):Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations by specifying acceptable entry conditions.    On or about December 16, 2022, and at times prior to, acceptable entry conditions were not specified for hazardous atmospheres including but not limited to diesel fuel and carbon monoxide for employee entry of a frac tank that previously held diesel fuel extracted from drilling mud.  Employees were exposed to potentially hazardous atmospheres and slip hazards.

Issued

Jun 8, 2023

Abate by

Jul 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(5)(i):Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations were conducted by testing conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions exist.    On or about December 16, 2022, and at times prior to, air conditions in a frac tank were not tested to determine acceptable entry conditions.  Employees entered a frac tank that previously held diesel fuel extracted from drilling mud and were exposed to potentially hazardous atmospheres and slip hazards.