Accountability and Efficiency Measures

Five Workers Suffer Fatal Injuries After Explosion at Rig

Aug. 1, 2018
Ten Patterson-UTI Drilling workers have died in the past decade, according to news reports.

 A Jan. 22, 2018 explosion at a Quinton, Okla. drilling rig caused fatal injuries to five workers. 

OSHA has cited Patterson-UTI Drilling, Crescent Consulting LLC, and Skyline Directional Drilling LLC for exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards after five employees suffered fatal injuries.

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

The five workers who died include: 29-year-old Matt Smith of McAlester, Okla.; 35-year-old Josh Ray of Fort Worth, Texas; 26-year-old Cody Risk of Wellington, Colo.; 60-year-old Parker Waldridge of Crescent, Okla.; and 55-year-old Roger Cunningham of Seminole, Okla., according to a McAlester News-Capital article.

According to the agency, Patterson-UTI and Crescent Consulting failed to maintain proper controls while drilling a well, inspect slow descent devices and implement emergency response plans. OSHA cited all three companies for failing to ensure that heat lamps in use were approved for hazardous locations. Fines from resulting penalties total $118,643, the maximum allowed for violation of the OSHA standards.

The companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. 

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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