An Oklahoma City employer’s failure to follow federal safety procedures left a 30-year-old worker suffering fatal asphyxiation as they tried to make repairs inside a water tank at a McClain County wellsite in September 2023, a federal investigation has found.
Responding to the report of a fatality in Purcell, investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined the worker had entered a permit-required confined space to fix a leaking bulkhead valve in a production tank and then lost consciousness. Two co-workers entered the tank in a failed rescue attempt and suffered effects from exposure to low atmospheric conditions. Neither sustained injuries.
OSHA investigators found the employer, C&M Roustabout Services LLC failed to evaluate the tank for hazardous conditions – including testing the atmosphere – and did not use protective systems to prevent worker injuries, a violation of federal regulations.
Further investigation determined the remaining water in the tank contained compounds — including ethyl benzene, xylene, trimethylbenzene, isobutane and other cyclic aliphatic compounds — and atmospheric readings inside showed low oxygen content, volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide, all of which can lead to asphyxiation.
The company faces $103,232 in proposed penalties for its violations.
Headquartered in Pauls Valley, C&M has provided roustabout services to Oklahoma’s oil industry since 2008.
Source: OSHA
Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance Oklahoma Contractors
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Grandson Not Covered Under Grandma’s Home Insurance 
Customers’ Search for Better Auto Rates Has UBI Heating Up 
Illinois USPS Employee Indicted for Alleged Workers’ Comp Fraud 
20,000 AI Users at Travelers Prep for Innovation 2.0; Claims Call Centers Cut 
