The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Monday said it cited an Oklahoma contractor after a worker suffered asphyxiation while trying to repair a water tank at a Purcell well site in September 2023.
OSHA cited Pauls Valley-based C&M Roustabout Services LLC for 16 serious violations relating to numerous failures that contributed to the worker’s death, including allowing employees to enter a confined space without an atmospheric evaluation or required permit, failing to have testing and ventilation equipment space entry programs in place, and not training employees on confined space hazards.
OSHA proposed $103,232 in penalties.
During the incident, the worker had entered a confined space to fix a leaking bulkhead valve in a production tank and lost consciousness.
Two employees who tried to rescue their co-worker suffered effects from exposure to low atmospheric conditions, but were otherwise uninjured, OSHA said.
C&M Roustabout has 15 business days to contest the citation and proposed penalties.