OSHA cites oil and gas drillers after explosion kills 5

Federal workplace safety regulators have cited and proposed penalties totaling $118,643 against three oil and gas firms for exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards after five employees suffered fatal injuries.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Houston-based Patterson-UTI Drilling, Oklahoma City-based Crescent Consulting L.L.C. and Oklahoma City-based Skyline Directional Drilling L.L.C. after an explosion and fire that occurred on a Patterson-UTI drilling rig near Quinton, Oklahoma, the agency said Monday in a statement.

OSHA cited Patterson-UTI and Crescent Consulting for failing to maintain proper controls while drilling a well, inspect slow descent devices and implement emergency response plans, according to the statement. OSHA cited all three companies for failing to ensure that heat lamps in use were approved for hazardous locations.

“These employers failed to properly control hazards involved in oil and gas extraction activities, and the result was tragic,” David Bates, OSHA’s Oklahoma City area office director, said in the statement. “Employers are required to monitor their operations to ensure workplace health and safety procedures are adequate and effective.”

Company spokespersons could not be immediately reached for comment.