OSHA cited an Oklahoma contractor whose failure to follow confined spaces safety procedures led to a worker fatality.
Inspectors found that a 30-year-old worker asphyxiated in September 2023 while trying to make repairs inside a water tank at a McClain County worksite.
The investigation revealed that the worker had entered a permit-required confined space to fix a leaking valve in a production tank before losing consciousness. Two co-workers attempted to rescue him but had to fall back after suffering effects from exposure to low atmospheric conditions. Neither of the co-workers were injured.
An analysis of the remaining water in the tank showed that it contained ethyl benzene, xylene, trimethylbenzene, isobutane and other compounds. Atmospheric readings conducted in the tank revealed low oxygen content, volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide, all of which can lead to asphyxiation.
Fine: $103,232
Company: C&M Roustabout Services, Purcell, Oklahoma
Business: Support activities for oil and gas operations
Reasons for fine:
16 serious violations for failing to:
- provide protective equipment when hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered (four violations)
- evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces
- develop a written permit entry program
- identify and evaluate hazards of permit spaces before allowing employees to enter
- provide employees with testing and monitoring equipment for permit-required confined space entry
- provide employees entering confined spaces with ventilating equipment
- develop procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services for rescuing entrants from permit spaces
- generate a confined space entry permit before employees entered a confined space
- provide training for employees required to enter permit-required confined spaces (four violations)
- ensure that all authorized entrants knew the hazards that could be faced when entering a confined space
