Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard:

Section (5)(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees who were exposed to fire and explosion hazards: (a) On May 17, 2025, at well site Carpenter 5, near Epping, North Dakota, the employer failed to ensure employees were protected from fire and explosion hazards while performing flow back operations where a flash fire occurred when crude oil and natural gas were discharged at 160 psi into a metal bucket without bonding or grounding the bucket to the manifold to prevent static discharge. Abatement Note: Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard is to follow API RP 54 - Occupational Safety and Health for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, Section 16 - Flowback Operations. Section 16.11 states "All equipment shall be bonded and grounded when in use."