OSHA Cites Well-Servicing Company in Electrocution Fatality at Wichita County, Texas, Site

Proposed $189,000 in penalties on Halcon Resources Corp. for two willful and seven serious safety violations

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Halcon Resources Corp. for two willful and seven serious safety violations at the company's work site in Wichita County.

OSHA's Fort Worth Area Office initiated an inspection in April in response to a report of a fatality involving an employee who came into contact with energized electrical parts and was electrocuted while working to restore power to a pumping station.

"This company failed to adequately train employees on the hazards of electrical repairs and maintenance on or near energized equipment," said Jack Rector, OSHA's area director in Fort Worth. "If the company had followed OSHA's safety standards, it's possible that this tragic accident could have been prevented."

The willful violations include failing to provide training on safe work practices and to provide electrical protective equipment, such as gloves, for employees performing maintenance work. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

The serious violations include failing to provide specific lockout/tagout procedures and ensure that the energy sources of electrical equipment are locked out prior to performing maintenance, test electrical personal protective equipment, and ensure that only qualified personnel perform testing and maintenance on electrical equipment. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Proposed penalties total $189,000. The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/HalconResourcesCorporationdbaWGOperating_316046051_1001_12.pdf*.

Halcon Resources is a Houston-based oil and gas servicing company that employs 300 workers nationwide. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Fort Worth area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Fort Worth office at 817-581-7303.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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