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: Employees involved in changing the flow of pressurized gas from the plugged manual choke manifold to the hydraulic choke manifold were exposed to the hazard of being struck by high pressure gas and sand or equipment related to a sudden and violent release of pressurized natural gas. Among other methods, one (1) feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard is to improve work practices and communications between all parties on the site. The completion of a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) prior to employees taking actions as recommended in the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) Accident Prevention Reference Guide as well as the employer's safety and health program would facilitate the employer meeting this objective.