Company Cited After Oil Well Explosion Leaves Three Workers Seriously Injured
Now OSHA is proposing citations and a penalty of $453k.
- By Alex Saurman
- May 10, 2022
One oil company is being cited for willful citations after an explosion injured three workers.
According to a press release, KLX Energy Services, operating as KLX Wireline LLC, of North Dakota, allegedly did not transport explosives carefully and did not take proper precautions to protect workers when working on the drilling site. An explosion occurred when a perforating gun detonated. The incident permanently disabled one worker and seriously injured two others.
OSHA inspected the company and found it did not “equip vehicles transporting explosives with at least two fire extinguishers located near the driver’s seat, ensure safe and consistent disposal or reuse of empty containers and paper fiber packing materials used to wrap explosive materials, and ensure the vehicles were always attended.”
OSHA cited the company for six willful, three serious and two other-than-serious violations. Proposed penalties total $453,982.
OSHA is proposing a penalty of $14,502 to Brigade Energy, which employed the two workers who were seriously injured. KLX employed the third worker.
“These individuals suffered serious injuries simply for doing their job,” said OSHA Area Director Scott Overson in Bismarck in the press release. “KLX Wireline LLC’s willful failure to follow federal standards is unacceptable and a violation of their employees’ rights to a safe workplace.”
About the Author
Alex Saurman is a former Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety,who has since joined OH&S’s client services team. She continues to work closely with OH&S’s editorial team and contributes to the magazine.