The Greeley Tribune
November 17, 2006
Worker dies from oil rig injuries
An oil rig worker died late Thursday night from injuries he sustained when a piece of heavy equipment fell from the top of a rig and hit him in the head.
According to Weld County Coroner Mark Ward, 19-year-old Jacob Farmer of Henderson died about 9:30 p.m. at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley.
Farmer was taken by helicopter to the hospital after the incident, which happened at Weld County roads 59 and 62, near Galeton and about six miles northeast of Kersey.
Ward said an autopsy is scheduled for today to determine the cause of death, however, he believes it was likely due to traumatic head injury.
The rig is operated by Leed Energy Service of Fort Lupton. Jonie Stoner, a human resources manager for the company, declined to comment on Thursday other than to say that the company is reviewing
An oil rig worker died late Thursday night from injuries he sustained when a piece of heavy equipment fell from the top of a rig and hit him in the head.
According to Weld County Coroner Mark Ward, 19-year-old Jacob Farmer of Henderson died about 9:30 p.m. at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley.
Farmer was taken by helicopter to the hospital after the incident, which happened at Weld County roads 59 and 62, near Galeton and about six miles northeast of Kersey.
Ward said an autopsy is scheduled for today to determine the cause of death, however, he believes it was likely due to traumatic head injury.
The rig is operated by Leed Energy Service of Fort Lupton. Jonie Stoner, a human resources manager for the company, declined to comment on Thursday other than to say that the company is reviewing
The Greeley Tribune
November 18, 2006
by Vanessa Delgado
Father remembers son killed in oil rig accident
He was a young man who liked to make people laugh and who, in the back of his mind, had dreams of becoming a professional golfer.
But Jacob Farmer, 19, of Henderson won't get that chance.
He died Nov. 16 at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley from injuries he sustained at work when a piece of heavy equipment fell from the top of an oil rig and hit him in the head.
His father remembers a loving son.
"Out of the blue, he would starting doing funny dances and make us laugh," said his father, Randy Farmer. "He was the baby of the family, and he made us laugh all the time."
Randy Farmer said his son was attending Front Range Community College and began working as an oil-rig worker to support his 18-month-old daughter, Abigail Farmer.
"He was in transition from being an irresponsible young man to a responsible man," Randy Farmer said. "He was slow to reach that point; part of it was my fault because I babied him."
As the family sifted through photos Saturday, it brought back memories of when their son was younger. Randy Farmer remembers Jari Farmer, Jacob's mom, taking him and his friends to the park to go rollerblading every summer. He said they would stay there all day.
"It's pretty tough right now to look at all the memories," Randy Farmer said, who was gathering the photos for a presentation they plan to have ready for a sideshow during the funeral. "You have years and years of flashbacks, and it just hits you all at once. I don't ever want to have to do this again."
As he got older, he said, his son got into golfing and worked at a golf course before he took the job at Leed Energy Service, which is based in Fort Lupton.
"He was my buddy and my golf partner," Randy Farmer said. "You're supposed to die before your kids."
The incident happened early Nov. 16 at Weld County roads 59 and 62, near Galeton and about six miles northeast of Kersey. Jonie Stoner, a human resources manager for the company, said the company is reviewing the incident.
"If you have kids it would be a good time to hug them, because you never know when it's going to be the last time you're going to see them," Randy Farmer said. "It could be your last goodbye."
Farmer said the family's faith in God is helping through their loss. Jacob Farmer did not live a long life but made the most from every minute was given, his dad said.
"He was a beautiful young boy."
He was a young man who liked to make people laugh and who, in the back of his mind, had dreams of becoming a professional golfer.
But Jacob Farmer, 19, of Henderson won't get that chance.
He died Nov. 16 at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley from injuries he sustained at work when a piece of heavy equipment fell from the top of an oil rig and hit him in the head.
His father remembers a loving son.
"Out of the blue, he would starting doing funny dances and make us laugh," said his father, Randy Farmer. "He was the baby of the family, and he made us laugh all the time."
Randy Farmer said his son was attending Front Range Community College and began working as an oil-rig worker to support his 18-month-old daughter, Abigail Farmer.
"He was in transition from being an irresponsible young man to a responsible man," Randy Farmer said. "He was slow to reach that point; part of it was my fault because I babied him."
As the family sifted through photos Saturday, it brought back memories of when their son was younger. Randy Farmer remembers Jari Farmer, Jacob's mom, taking him and his friends to the park to go rollerblading every summer. He said they would stay there all day.
"It's pretty tough right now to look at all the memories," Randy Farmer said, who was gathering the photos for a presentation they plan to have ready for a sideshow during the funeral. "You have years and years of flashbacks, and it just hits you all at once. I don't ever want to have to do this again."
As he got older, he said, his son got into golfing and worked at a golf course before he took the job at Leed Energy Service, which is based in Fort Lupton.
"He was my buddy and my golf partner," Randy Farmer said. "You're supposed to die before your kids."
The incident happened early Nov. 16 at Weld County roads 59 and 62, near Galeton and about six miles northeast of Kersey. Jonie Stoner, a human resources manager for the company, said the company is reviewing the incident.
"If you have kids it would be a good time to hug them, because you never know when it's going to be the last time you're going to see them," Randy Farmer said. "It could be your last goodbye."
Farmer said the family's faith in God is helping through their loss. Jacob Farmer did not live a long life but made the most from every minute was given, his dad said.
"He was a beautiful young boy."
United States Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Services
https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=310463401
Inspection: 310463401 - Leed Energy Services, Inc
Inspection Information - Office: Denver
Nr: 310463401 Report ID:0830500 Open Date: 11/17/2006
Leed Energy Services, Inc
Rig 721 At Weld Cr 59 And 62
Gill, CO 80624
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC: 1389/Oil and Gas Field Services, Not Elsewhere Classified
NAICS: 213112/Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations
Mailing: P.O. Box 329, Fort Lupton, CO 80621
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 04/11/2007
Emphasis: L:Oilgas,S:Fall From Height,S:Struck-By
Close Case: 06/26/2007
Optional Information: Type ID Value
N 8 EEP
N 10 IMMLANG-N
Related Activity: Type ID Safety Health
Accident: 101574408
Complaint 206027922 Yes
Violation Summary
Serious Willful Repeat Other Unclass Total
Initial Violations 4 4
Current Violations 2 1 3
Initial Penalty 14000 14000
Current Penalty 8600 2800 11400
FTA Amount
Violation Items
# ID Type Standard Issuance Abate Curr$ Init$ Fta$ Contest LastEvent
1.01001 Serious 5A0001 04/13/2007 06/01/2007 $5600 $5600 $0 I - Informal Settlement
2.01002 Other 9100023 A08 04/13/2007 06/01/2007 $2800 $2800 $0 I - Informal Settlement
Deleted 3.01003 Serious 19100023 C01 04/13/2007 05/02/2007 $0 $1600 $0 I - Informal Settlement
4.01004 Serious 19100212 A01 04/13/2007 06/01/2007 $3000 $4000 $0 I - Informal Settlement
Accident Investigation Summary
Summary Nr: 201573169
Event: 11/17/2006 Employee Is Killed When Struck By Falling Sheave
On November 17, 2006, Employee #1 was part of a well-servicing crew that was laying pipe in an existing casing. They were conducting hydrostatic tests of the pipe. A bent and welded sucker rod served as an eyelet for an 8-in. sheave at the crown. The crew powered up the truck mounted winch. When the hydrostatic test bar became stuck in the pipe, the sucker rod holding the sheave suddenly failed. Employee #1 was killed when the sheave fell and struck him in the head.
Keywords:well, well service rig, pulley, winch, struck by, falling object, pipe, stuck, metal bar
Inspection Degree Nature Occupation
1310463401 Fatality Concussion Drillers, oil well
Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY
Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck by hazards: (a)LEED Energy Services, Inc. at Rig 721, Weld CR 59 and 62, Gill, CO 80624: On or before 11/17/06, the employer did not ensure that all hoisting tools and their components were substantially constructed to conform with good engineering practices and maintained in safe condition, and that no element in the hoisting tool system was subjected to any load in excess of its design limitations. The employer did not ensure that the eyelet, used in connecting the upper sheave to the sandline, was pull tested, and equipped with a safety latch or equivalent device to prevent accidental release of the load being hoisted or lowered. Condition exposed employees to struck by hazards, fatally injuring one employee. Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (See enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter"). Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method can be found in the American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 54 Section 9.7, as referenced, in part, above.nced,
Inspection Information - Office: Denver
Nr: 310463401 Report ID:0830500 Open Date: 11/17/2006
Leed Energy Services, Inc
Rig 721 At Weld Cr 59 And 62
Gill, CO 80624
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC: 1389/Oil and Gas Field Services, Not Elsewhere Classified
NAICS: 213112/Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations
Mailing: P.O. Box 329, Fort Lupton, CO 80621
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 04/11/2007
Emphasis: L:Oilgas,S:Fall From Height,S:Struck-By
Close Case: 06/26/2007
Optional Information: Type ID Value
N 8 EEP
N 10 IMMLANG-N
Related Activity: Type ID Safety Health
Accident: 101574408
Complaint 206027922 Yes
Violation Summary
Serious Willful Repeat Other Unclass Total
Initial Violations 4 4
Current Violations 2 1 3
Initial Penalty 14000 14000
Current Penalty 8600 2800 11400
FTA Amount
Violation Items
# ID Type Standard Issuance Abate Curr$ Init$ Fta$ Contest LastEvent
1.01001 Serious 5A0001 04/13/2007 06/01/2007 $5600 $5600 $0 I - Informal Settlement
2.01002 Other 9100023 A08 04/13/2007 06/01/2007 $2800 $2800 $0 I - Informal Settlement
Deleted 3.01003 Serious 19100023 C01 04/13/2007 05/02/2007 $0 $1600 $0 I - Informal Settlement
4.01004 Serious 19100212 A01 04/13/2007 06/01/2007 $3000 $4000 $0 I - Informal Settlement
Accident Investigation Summary
Summary Nr: 201573169
Event: 11/17/2006 Employee Is Killed When Struck By Falling Sheave
On November 17, 2006, Employee #1 was part of a well-servicing crew that was laying pipe in an existing casing. They were conducting hydrostatic tests of the pipe. A bent and welded sucker rod served as an eyelet for an 8-in. sheave at the crown. The crew powered up the truck mounted winch. When the hydrostatic test bar became stuck in the pipe, the sucker rod holding the sheave suddenly failed. Employee #1 was killed when the sheave fell and struck him in the head.
Keywords:well, well service rig, pulley, winch, struck by, falling object, pipe, stuck, metal bar
Inspection Degree Nature Occupation
1310463401 Fatality Concussion Drillers, oil well
Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY
Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck by hazards: (a)LEED Energy Services, Inc. at Rig 721, Weld CR 59 and 62, Gill, CO 80624: On or before 11/17/06, the employer did not ensure that all hoisting tools and their components were substantially constructed to conform with good engineering practices and maintained in safe condition, and that no element in the hoisting tool system was subjected to any load in excess of its design limitations. The employer did not ensure that the eyelet, used in connecting the upper sheave to the sandline, was pull tested, and equipped with a safety latch or equivalent device to prevent accidental release of the load being hoisted or lowered. Condition exposed employees to struck by hazards, fatally injuring one employee. Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (See enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter"). Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method can be found in the American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 54 Section 9.7, as referenced, in part, above.nced,
