Friday, May 3, 2013

Osha hits companies for Bakken safety flaws

Osha cited First Choice Energy Services of Minot, North Dakota, with nine "serious" violations for exposing workers to unsafe conditions at an oilfield drilling and fluid disposal operation in the US state.

Osha launched an investigation into the company's practises after 31-year-old Joshua Hoilanda was killed after being caught in the agitator of an oilfield vacuum truck storage tank in March. It was North Dakota's fifth oilfield death in less than a year. The oil and gas industry accounts for half of all work-related deaths in the state since 2010.

First Choice faces a fine of $33,000.

"First Choice Energy failed to develop and implement the most basic of confined space and energy control safety protocols," said Eric Brooks, OSHA's regional director. "Companies have a responsibility to recognise – and train their workers to recognise – hazards unique to their job sites in addition to protecting workers from such hazards."

Five of the nine citations involve violations of Osha's confined space requirements, aimed at preventing situations that led to the death of Hoilanda.

Separately, Osha cited Oklahoma-based Nomac Drilling for three safety violations, including one repeat for failing to provide fall protection, to workers at another North Dakota well site.

The citations came as part of an inspection last month aimed at ensuring compliance from companies working in the Bakken tight-oil play.

In a repeat violation, Nomac failed to protect workers on unguarded open platforms in the mud house from fall hazards of about 9 feet, Osha said. Nomac was cited for the same thing in 2010 in Towanda Township, Pennsylvania, and again in 2011 in Cordell, Oklahoma, and Wyalusing, Pennsylvania.

The company was also cited this time for two "serious" violations for failing to ensure workers were protected from fall hazards by installing an effective emergency escape line from the derrick board and to provide a usable eyewash station for working with corrosive chemicals.

Nomac faces a $65,300 fine.

"Nomac Drilling continues to expose workers to fall hazards," Brooks said in a separate statement. "Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the workplace. Employers have a responsibility to implement worker safety programs effectively and to train their employees on the proper use of fall protection equipment."

Nomac has been inspected by Osha 35 times since January 2010, with 16 of those inspections resulting in citations.


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