Region 6 News Release:   OSHA-01-85
July 13, 2001
Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd
Phone: (214) 767-4776, ext. 222 or 221

OSHA CITES GREY WOLF DRILLING CO. L.P., ALICE,TEXAS, FOR ALLEGED SAFETY VIOLATIONS AND PROPOSES $92,500 IN PENALTIES

DALLAS -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Grey Wolf Drilling Co. L.P., in Alice, Texas, with five alleged safety violations and proposed penalties totaling $92,500.

An oil and gas drilling company, Grey Wolf Drilling Co., employs about 24 employees at its division in Alice. The holding company, Grey Wolf Inc., employs about 2,600 workers nationwide and its corporate office is located in Houston, Texas.

OSHA discovered the alleged violations during an inspection that began May 2, 2001. The company was cited with one willful, three serious and one repeat violation.

The one willful violation was for failing to protect employees from fall hazards while erecting a rig. A willful violation is defined as one that is committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety & Health Act and regulations.

The three serious violations were for failing to protect employees from hazards of being struck by materials being carried or moved by a crane, failure to guard floor holes and using damaged and kinked wire rope slings. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

The repeat violation was for failure to have guard rails on floors. A repeat violation is defined as a violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order where, upon reinspection, a substantially similar violation is found.

Employers or workers who have questions concerning safety and health may contact the OSHA Corpus Christi area office at (361) 888-3420. Or, call OSHA's toll free hotline number at 1-800-321-6742 to report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers.

Grey Wolf Drilling Co. has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the Corpus Christi OSHA area director, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.