OSHA Fines Two Major West Texas companies for serious Safety Violations

Recently, two major West Texas companies were cited for some serious safety and health violations in the unrelated deaths of 3 employees, earlier this year. The regulatory agency, OSHA, has proposed fining the Patterson-UTI Drilling Company $9,500 and the Robinson Drilling Company $17,000 for the April and May incidents.

William Ryan Locke, 35, a Big Spring resident, died on the 1st of April, on a rig that was near Highway 158. Locke was on a 12-foot ladder, when he tapped on a valve connection from a pump union.

The union in turn, struck and destroyed the ladder, which caused Locke to fall and be impaled on the debris. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has thus penalized the Robinson Drilling company, for not properly training employees, on the hazards of using an air winch.

Wade Monroe Bennett, 32, another Big Spring resident, was killed on the 12th of May, when he disconnected from his fall protection on a rig and thus fell off a platform that was 90 feet above the ground. For this, OSHA penalized the Robinson Drilling company, for not properly training employees, in fall protection.

On the Other hand, a Patterson-UTI Drilling worker, was killed on the 5th of May, when he was struck on the head by the pipe after it was lifted up from a hole. Here too, OSHA penalized the company for not keeping fire extinguishers where they should be and for not using a safety line with the pipe.