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

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: Five Star Consolidated, Co., Ltd., 2 miles West of Welch, TX on US 83, Welch, TX, North Welch Unit, Well #2603. For the period of time up to and including 09/30/02, the employer did not follow the American Petroleum Institute's (API) Recommended Practices for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations (RP54-99) which states well operations involving the rig shall not be commenced until the rig is rigged up in a safe manner. Employees were exposed to the hazard of collapse of the derrick mast resulting from the improper erection of the PEMCO Model 96-180-C work-over rig, identified by the employer as Rig #5. Employees "rigged-up" in order to service an existing oil well. Employees failed to ensure the locking "dogs" were secured prior to beginning work. When pressure was put upon the derrick, the upper portion of the mast fell down, causing the hydraulic cylinder to bend outside of the mast, striking an employee, causing fatal injuries. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard: a. Ensure proper erection procedures are followed. b. Rig Field Supervisors arrive on site unannounced after rigging up has been complete to verify "dogs" have been tagged. c. The check list used by the operator should have a line to remind the operator to "visually check and flag the dogs prior to operating".