Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 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 a fire and explosion hazard: Employees were exposed to the hazard of fire and explosion resulting from an unknown quantity of flammable gas. The bleed off valve for the annulus of Section "A" (Bradenhead) had not been opened to assure there was no accumulation of natural gas in the surface casing; nor had the employer circulated the well, bottoms up, prior to beginning well servicing operations. One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct the hazards is to assure that the well shall be checked for pressure and if pressure is indicated, the operator's authorized person should be notified; then proper steps should be taken to remove pressure or to operate safely under pressure before commencing operations such as specified by API RP 54-92, Section 5, Sub-Section 5.3, Paragraph Number 5.3.4, page number 10. This alleged condition occurred on or about November 17, 1999.