Inspection Detail

Inspection: 315224170 - Eqt Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Charleston Area Office

Investigation Summary

At around 10:00 a.m. on May 31, 2011, Employee #1 was working as a machinery maintenance technician for the natural gas transmission and distribution firm EQT Corporation. He arrived at the firm's Wharncliffe, WV, compressor station to conduct maintenance work on the station as part of its 90-day preventive maintenance servicing session. At approximately 10:30 a.m., Employee #1 and the station operator started performing the service, while two technical trainers observed. Employee #1 completed his portion of the maintenance and went to his vehicle to cool off at approximately 12:00 p.m. Employee #1 returned to the compressor after a couple minutes to retrieve his sunglasses. Employee #1 then went back to his vehicle. At approximately 12:30 p.m., the station operator and one of the technical trainers went to check on Employee #1. They found Employee #1 in his vehicle, slouched over against the driver's side door. The station operator and technical trainer entered the vehicle and found that Employee #1 had no pulse. The station operator called emergency medical services and assisted the technical trainer in moving Employee #1 to the ground. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature on that day during the period of 9:55 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. was between 81 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Employee #1 had been complaining of an "electricity"-type feeling in his arm that moved into his chest and stomach prior to arriving at the site. He had also complained of the same condition a week earlier. Employee #1 was wearing flame-retardant clothing while working at the compressor station.

Keywords: CARDIOVASC SYSTEM, CHEST, COMPRESSOR, MAINTENANCE, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PPE, NATURAL GAS, PIPELINE, HEAT EXHAUSTION