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OSHA News Release
2005 - 03/04/2005 - OSHA Cites Big Dog Drilling Following Fatal Electrocution |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 6 News Release: OSHA-05-347-DAL Friday March 4, 2005 Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd Phone: (214) 767-4776, ext. 222 or 221 OSHA Cites Big Dog Drilling Following Fatal Electrocution
MIDLAND, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations and proposed penalties totaling $100,500 against Big Dog Drilling, Midland, Texas, following investigation of a worker's electrocution at a drilling location. Big Dog Drilling, a subsidiary of Acme Energy Services Inc., employs about 300 workers in the Midland area and specializes in oilfield drilling. OSHA began its investigation Sept. 2, 2004, in response to a fatal accident in which an employee was exposed to damaged energized cables. The agency has cited the company with one willful and five serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. "Power cables running from the generator plant to the supervisor's trailer were not protected from vehicles running over the cables and damaging them," said Richard F. Tapio OSHA area director in Lubbock. "The damaged cables became energized near a supervisor's travel trailer, exposing an employee picking up trash around the trailer to electrical current. The investigation revealed that employees had been receiving shocks for several months." OSHA cited the company for a willful violation for failing to ensure that an electrical cable, supplying power to the supervisor's trailer, was protected from damage. A willful citation is issued for violations committed with disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the OSH Act and regulations. The alleged serious violations included failing to label circuit panel switches; failing to ensure that electrical installations had a permanent and continuous path to ground; not covering open exposed electrical wiring in circuit panels; not installing or using flexible cables in accordance with manufacturer and national electrical code requirements; and allowing exposed wiring on electrical outlets and switches on the rig location. A serious violation is issued when there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition about which the employer knew or should have known. The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Lubbock area director, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's Lubbock office at (806) 472-7681, or OSHA's hotline number at 1-800-321-6742 to report workplace accidents, fatalities, or situations posing an imminent danger to workers. Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. # # #
U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7765 or TTY (202) 693-7755. |
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