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

AS 18.60.075(a): Safe employment. An employer shall do everything necessary to protect the life, health, and safety of employees including, but not limited to: complying with all occupational safety and health standards and regulations adopted by the department; furnishing and prescribing the use of suitable protective equipment, safety devices, and safeguards as are prescribed for the work and work place; adopting and prescribing control or technological procedures, and monitoring and measuring employee exposure in connection with hazards, as may be necessary for the protection of employees; and furnishing to each employee employment and a place of employment that are free from recognized hazards that, in the opinion of the commissioner, are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the employees. EXAMPLE: The employer failed to protect employees from the hazard of explosion from high gas pressure in the outer annulus of oil well A-22. The employer did not ensure that procedures were followed to prevent pressures in the outer annulus of oil well A-22 from exceeding the 5,380 p.s.i. bursting strength. An explosion occurred which destroyed the oil-well and caused serious injuries to an employee. The employer referred to thermal gas expansion hazards in their procedures, but did not ensure that control of thermal expansion pressures was understood by all affected employees, and did not ensure that procedures were followed to prevent an explosion.