Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CRUSHING

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 January 12, 2007, and for a period of time before that date, Key Energy Services was operating a well servicing rig, Number 300, on Well #395, Levelland field, West of Levelland, Texas. The rig was not equipped with a functional crownomatic device to prevent the travelling block from being pulled into contact with the crown block. Employees were thus not assured of protection against the hazards of falling objects in the event that the operator failed to stop the hoisting line from pulling the travelling block too far. This operating crew was thus not assured of employment and a place of employment which was free from a recognized hazard that was likely to cause death or serious physical harm, i.e. being crushed by falling heavy steel objects. A feasible means of abatement is to follow the recommendations of the American Petroleum Institute's Recommended Practice RP-54 "Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations" and ensure that the crownomatic on the drawworks is functional and tested before each trip and after each drill-line slipping/cutting operation.