Abstract: Employee #1 was disassembling the pipe rams of a Shaffer LWS, double gate, blowout preventer mounted on a high pressure oil well. The blind rams (manually locking) of the blowout preventer were closed, and were holding back gas in the well at 1,000 psi. Employee #1 asked an employee of the oil service company to open the pipe rams using a remote control lever. The control lever for the blind rams was erroneously actuated. High pressure gas from the well bore struck Employee #1, throwing him approximately 35 ft to a mud pit. He suffered spinal injuries and was taken to Kern Medical Center for treatment. He died on August 2, 1990, from his injuries.