Worksite Death Leads to $189K Fine for Texas O&G Service Company

October 4, 2012

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Halcon Resources Corp. for two willful and seven serious safety violations following a fatality at the company’s work site in Wichita County, Texas. Proposed penalties total $189,000.

Halcon is based in Houston. The work site, known as WG Operating, is located one mile northwest of Electra, Texas, along Highway 287.

The fatality occurred when the employee came into contact with energized electrical parts and was electrocuted while working to restore power to a pumping station.

The willful violations include failing to provide training on safe work practices and to provide electrical protective equipment, such as gloves, for employees performing maintenance work.

A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

The serious violations include failing to provide specific lockout/tagout procedures and ensure that the energy sources of electrical equipment are locked out prior to performing maintenance, test electrical personal protective equipment, and ensure that only qualified personnel perform testing and maintenance on electrical equipment.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/HalconResourcesCorporationdbaWGOperating_316046051_1001_12.pdf*.

Halcon Resources is a Houston-based oil and gas servicing company that employs 300 workers nationwide. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s Fort Worth area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA

Topics Texas Workers' Compensation

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