State officials expect a big push in congress to increase penalties and inspections under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

It could be one way to address Wyoming’s worst-in-the-nation workplace fatality rate, according to several Wyoming leaders. Gov. Dave Freudenthal recently told members of the oil and gas and construction industries he’d support stiffer penalties.

“Frankly, I’m fine with it. I know people don’t like it, but if you grab people by the wallet, their hearts and minds will follow. I think it’s an appropriate action for the government to take,” Freudenthal said at an industry safety forum in October.

U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., is ranking minority member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which oversees federal OSHA.

J.D. Danni, OSHA program manager in Wyoming, said his agency continually visits with companies in Wyoming to counsel them on how to stay within OSHA guidelines.

“We do a lot of informal conferences,” Danni said, referring to companies that contest citations.

Two of the most serious types of citations that Wyoming OSHA can issue are for “repeat” violations and “willful” violations. A repeat violation can be as minor as not wearing safety glasses or as serious as not using fall protection gear. Two or more of those violations within a three-year period triggers a repeat violation.

Danni said a willful citation is usually issued when a company has been informed of a safety violation and does not correct the situation. Actual penalties can range from $100 to $70,000, depending on myriad factors.

But some state leaders and worker advocates have suggested that even these citations and penalties may not be enough of a deterrent to safety violations.

At the Star-Tribune’s request, Wyoming OSHA provided a list of companies that received “repeat” and “willful” citations since 2006.

In the four years surveyed, there were many companies that received multiple citations in these two categories. Five companies received three of these types of citations in the four-year period. They are Cyclone Drilling Inc., Kumelos Design & Construction Inc., Nabors Drilling USA LP, Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC, and Unit Drilling Co.

Patrick Hladky, contract manager for Cyclone Drilling, said the citations his company received were for minor violations.

“I do believe it’s become a safer workplace every day moving forward, with or without fines,” Hladky said.

Other company managers who didn’t want to identify themselves complained that there’s often inconsistency among different OSHA inspectors. Some situations are also difficult to fit within codes and regulations. For example, one manager said he can’t cut a 3-inch piece of stock on a table saw unless he temporarily removes the guard.

“We try to apply all the rules across the board,” Danni said. “If it’s a rule violation, then the employer has opportunity to contest the citation and have an informal conference.”

Bruce Hinchey of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said his organization would likely support higher penalties – if it effectively helps improve workplace safety.

“It’s something to look at. If companies aren’t paying attention, then maybe more inspections or stiffer fines are needed,” Hinchey said.

Rep. Mary Throne, D-Laramie, serves on the Joint Judiciary Committee and said she favors stiffer OSHA penalties. If Congress does increase OSHA penalties at the federal level, Wyoming lawmakers would have to approve the higher penalties at the state level.

“We need meaningful enforcement of Wyoming safety standards, and we don’t have that right now,” Throne said.

Energy reporter Dustin Bleizeffer can be reached at (307) 577-6069 or dustin.bleizeffer@trib.com. Check out Dustin’s blog at tribtown.trib.com/DustinBleizeffer/blog

OSHA citations in Wyoming

2006 repeat citations

* Ahrenholtz Masonry Inc.

* Big Horn Roofing Inc.

* Capitol Roofing Inc.

* Cowboy State Lath & Plaster

* Cyclone Drilling Inc.

* Denbil Construction Management LLC

* Grey Wolf Drilling Company LP

* Haro Roofing

* Heartland Home Builders Inc.

* Kumelos Design & Construction Inc.

* Limmer Roofing Inc.

* MJB Construction Co.

* Nabors Drilling USA LP

* Norb Olind Construction Inc.

* Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC

* Quality Framing Inc.

* Residential Roofing LC

* Rising Star Construction Inc.

* S&L Industrial

* Schrader Metal & Design Inc.

* Teton Homes Corp.

* True Drilling LLC

* Unit Drilling Co.

* WN McMurry Construction Co.

* Westridge Construction

2006 "willful" citations

* Tim Colman Equipment LLC

* True Drilling LLC

2007 repeat citations

* ABM Well Service

* Acton Masonry Inc.

* Cyclone Drilling Inc.

* DRM Inc.

* Excel Construction Inc.

* Grey Wolf Drilling Company LP

* Inman Roofing Inc.

* Mid-Valley General Contractors Inc.

* Nabors Drilling USA LP

* Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC

* Residential Roofing LC

* S&S Builders LLC

* Sign Products Inc.

* SST Energy Corp.

* Teton Homes Corp.

* Unit Drilling Co.

* Weathercraft Company of Scottsbluff-Gering

2007 "willful" citations

* Black Mountain Well Service

* Hawkeye Well Services LLC

2008 repeat citations

* Basic Energy Services

* Big Horn Roofing Inc.

* Cowboy State Lath and Plaster

* Cyclone Drilling Inc.

* DHS Drilling Co.

* Dorance Johnson

* DRM Inc.

* Excel Roofing Inc.

* Hladky Construction Inc.

* Inman Roofing Inc.

* J Moreno Inc.

* Kumelos Design & Construction Inc.

* Larry Brachtenbach Construction

* Nabors Drilling USA LP

* Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC

* Reynas Plastering

* Rising Star Construction Inc.

* SST Energy Corp.

* Stallion Oilfield Services

* Superior Electric and Communications Inc.

* Unit Drilling Co.

2008 "willful" citations

* Reynas Plastering

* Three Sons LLC

2009 repeat citations

* Brothers Drywall

* Caspar Building Systems Inc.

* Doud Bts Inc.

* DRM Inc.

* H&S Enterprises LLC

* Heggem Construction Inc.

* J Moreno Inc.

* Kumelos Design and Construction Inc.

* Presidential Roofing LLC

* Pride Roofing

* Riatta Enterprises LLC

* SST Energy Corp.

* Stallion Oilfield Services

* Superior Electric & Communications Inc.

* Weathercraft Company of Scottsbluff-Gering

2009 "willful" citations

* None final

Source: Wyoming Occupational Safety and Health Administration