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 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 in that employees were exposed to a struck-by hazard: Employee was exposed to a struck-by hazard and injuries related to sudden and violent release of pressure as a result of the ten (10) inch Mechanical Pig Receiver, at the Kawitt Facility of the 844 Gathering System Pipeline, not being equipped with a functional pressure gauge, as required in Department of Transportation 49 CFR 195.426 Scraper and Sphere Facilities. The employer had not developed and implemented written procedures for the launching and retrieval of mechanical pigs during Pigging Operations of the 844 Gathering System Pipeline, along with the lack of proper and adequate training to ensure that employees are aware of the pressure hazards to which they are exposed. This occurred on or about August 08, 2000, at the Receiver of the Kawitt Facility, seven (7) miles North of Runge, Texas on Hwy 72, Nordheim, Texas 78141. Among other methods, one (1) feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard is to develop and implement written procedures for the launching and retrieval of mechanical pigs during Pigging Operations of the 844 Gathering System Pipeline and to properly and adequately train employees in the correct sequence of steps of the Pigging Operation when launching and retrieving mechanical pigs.