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

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 an over pressurized 600 psi Hammond ball valve: (a) Jobsite: On or about April 24, 2010, employees were using a 600 psi Hammond ball valve in a 5,000 psi PZL (PZL-11) Triplex drilling mud pump (reduced to 4,200 psi) to pump water through the line. The Hammond 600 psi ball valve failed resulting in one employee being hospitalized and one employee fatality injured. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable and acceptable means of abatement is to comply with the American Petroleum Institute (API), API recommended Practice 54, Third Edition, August 1999, Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations Section 9.13.4.