OSHA Inspection: PREMIUM WELL DRILLING INC DBA TEXAS STAR MACHINE

Issued

Aug 3, 2005

Abate by

Aug 9, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 a struck by hazard:
North Side, Pumping Rig, 6316 Old Goliad Road: Means were not used to
secure
the beam to a fixed member of the pumping unit when the Pumping unit was
stopped with counterweights in other than the down position.  Among other
methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this
hazard is
to secure the beam to a fixed member of the pumping unit.
North Side, Pumping Rig, 6316 Old Goliad Road: Alternative effective
protective
techniques were not employed where the equipment/process design prohibited
use
of the established lockout/tagout devices.  Among other methods, one
feasible and
acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to use blocks or
other
physical restraints to guarantee total immobilization of the pumping rig
counterweights.