Oil Drilling Firm Given Two Repeat Violations
Ensign United States Drilling was cited with two repeat safety violations.
OSHA has cited Dallas-based Ensign United States Drilling (S.W.) Inc., filing two repeat safety violations for allegedly exposing workers to possible hazards of oil well explosions. According to OSHA, the repeat violations were cited for failing to correct deficiencies found during a 2011 investigation.
"Ensign United States Drilling failed to abate previous violations while continuing to expose its workers to oilfield injuries or possibly death from hazards that could easily be corrected. This obvious disregard for their workers' safety and health is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," said David Doucet, OSHA's Houston North area director.
The repeat violations were cited for obstruction of and damage to a Geronimo line, an emergency escape line. This one was blocked by a rack of pipes and contained four knots that could stop workers' full slide to safety during a fire or explosion, according to OSHA.
The violations total $65,000 in penalties and arrive after an inspection that was part of OSHA's Regional Emphasis Program for the Upstream Oil and Gas Well Industry.