Mmi Services, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Feb 28, 2008: Two employees are injured when struck by block

On February 28, 2008, Employee #1, a rig supervisor, and Employee #2, a rig hand , were working as part of a four man crew near the well head on the rig floor of an abandoned well. The crew was reabandoning the well for a city development pr oject. The workover rig was a Model Number 1963, Franks single rig with a 62 ft mast (Vehicle Identification Number 630257, License Number 4UED173). They were p lacing a portable work platform over a newly installed blow- out preventer. The portable platform measured 76 in. by 135 in., with 4 adjustable legs and was bas ically a trailer with two wheels and a trailer hitch. They were using the wench line on the rig to lift the platform and the crew to pull the platform over the blow-out preventer and attach the hitch to the tool truck on site. The platform kept hanging up on various parts of the workover rig and at one point the platfo rm came free and struck the clutch controller. Once the clutch controller was ac tivated the traveling block, which measured approximately 4 ft and 6 in. tall, a nd 3 ft and 6 in. wide, and weighing 5,000 lbs, began to rapidly rise striking t he crown block (two block) of the workover rig. At this point, the torque on the 7/8 wire rope drill line was estimated at 186,000 pounds causing the block to r ip apart on one side. The ripped metal edge on the traveling block severed the d rill line and the block fell 62 ft, striking the two employees. Employee #1's le ft foot was amputated at the ankle. Employee #2 suffered a broken leg and pelvis and other internal injuries. Employees #1 and #2 were hospitalized.

Incident on Aug 11, 1999: Employee injured in fall from drilling rig

At approximately 7:30 p.m. on August 11, 1999, Employee #1 and two other employe es were completing hydrotest work on the drilling pump at an oil well drill rig. Employee #1 was on the derrick, approximately 56 ft above the ground, and was d isconnecting a sheave from the rig. He disconnected his lanyard so that he could reach the sheave, lost his balance, and fell. While falling, he hit a fence, wh ich might have broken his fall. Employee #1 was hospitalized with a fractures to his ankle, left knee, and vertebrae.

Incident on Apr 17, 1997: Employee injured when struck by kelly on oil rig

At approximately 1:30 a.m. on April 17, 1997, Employee #1, of MMI Services, was working the morning tower on oil well drill rig #30 in Taft, California. The dri ll rig crew was in the process of making a connection. The kelly was disconnecte d from the drill string and the driller pulled up on the kelly so the derrickman could insert the kelly hook on the hang-back line. At the same time, Employee # 1 and a coworker were trying to push the kelly over to the rat hole. The kelly b ecame caught in the derrick and the bottom swung out, striking Employee #1. He w as thrown across the floor, hit the guardrails, and fell to the floor, striking his head on some equipment. Employee #1 sustained serious injuries, for which he was hospitalized.

Incident on Sep 6, 1991: Employee's feet fractured in jump from rig member

At approximately 7:40 a.m. on September 6, 1991, Employee #1 was rigging at the Kern River oil field in Bakersfield, CA. He was setting the dogs for the top sec tion of the mast when the extended ram of the hydraulic cylinder, used to elevat e the mast, buckled and broke loose. This caused the top section to telescope to the bottom of the mast. Thinking he was in danger, Employee #1 jumped clear of the rig about 9 ft to the ground from a cross member. Suffering fractures to bot h feet, Employee #1 was taken to Memorial Hospital, Bakersfield, CA, where he wa s treated and released. He went back to the hospital on September 9 for surgery and stayed three days.

Incident on Aug 12, 1990: Employee injured when pinned under forklift

At approximately 5:15 p.m. on August 12, 1990, Employee #1 was operating a Hyste r forklift, #BID 6741, in a maintenance yard in Bakersfield, CA.. He had the for ks elevated above the roll cage and was traveling at a high rate of speed when h e attempted to make a turn. The high center of gravity caused by the elevated fo rks, combined with the excessive speed, caused the forklift to overturn. Employe e #1 was pinned under the forklift and suffered head contusions and facial lacer ations. .