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What happened?
Workers were trying to remove polished sucker rods from a well.
Two shifts of workers were unable to unscrew one set of rods.
Although it was reported to management, two workers continued to try to loosen them.
They used full-circle tongs and a bar as a lever.
They made 3.5 rotations of the tongs with a bar, then 2 turns in the opposite direction.
The workers decided to release the bar. When one of the workers released it, he tried to move out the way but was struck by the bar.
The worker was knocked unconscious to the floor and died on the way to the hospital.
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Why did it happen?
The workers were not using the correct tools for the task.
They began work without the manager’s authorisation.
They started work without identify the hazards of their tasks and without preparing a work plan.
No other workers triggered a stop work authority.
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What did they learn?
Once an issue is reported, do not try to rectify the situation without the proper controls in place.
Make sure that workers get full training on risk and hazard identification in the workplace.
Ensure workers use the correct tools for the task.
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Ask yourself or your crew
Think of a time when you started a job without your manager’s approval / without a work plan. Why was that?
How do you ensure you are using the correct tools for the job?
What would you do if you observe your colleagues carrying out a task without the appropriate permits and correct tools?
Would you feel nervous about triggering a stop work authority? Why is that?
Before starting work, how can you check if all hazards have been considered and safety measures are in place?
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Published on 12/08/21
1735 Views
Workers were removing polished sucker rods from a well. One set was stuck, and whilst workers were trying to remove them, one of the workers was fatally injured by a bar.
