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

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 explosion hazards: (a) Jobsite located at 119 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA: On or about 12-18-02 crews were working to install a new service line to the CAPA school. The job consisted of installing 50 feet of 6 inch steel gas service line with the a tie in from an 8 inch line. The 6 inch new gas line was purged with air, then after the air test, the entire six inch line was purged with natural gas through the butterfly vale and into the basement of the CAPA jobsite. The line was only purged to 60 percent natural gas at the flange drop inside the meter room. This created the potential for the air and gas to mix causing a flammable atmosphere. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement to correct this hazard is to purge to 100 percent natural gas in accordance with the National Fuel Gas Code Handbook, 1999 Edition, page 104, sections 4.3.2 thru 4.3.4; the National Safety Council, Natural Gas Safety Handbook for Utility Workers and Contractors, pages 65 and 66; and in accordance with the Equitable Resources, Inc. Planned Shutdown/Tie- In Procedures dated approximately 12-17-02.