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Accident Report Detail

Accident: 14506257 - Employee Struck By Piece Of Exploding Valve

Accident: 14506257 -- Report ID: 0830500 -- Event Date: 05/04/1984
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
157177705/08/19841389Blackhawk Services Inc
EMPLOYEE #1 WAS STANDING AT THE SIDE OF A GAS WELLHEAD, APPARENTLY OPENING THE BALL VALVE IN THE CASING LINE. A CHECK VALVE IN THE FLOW LINE EXPLODED. A LARGE PIECE OF THE EXPLODING VALVE ENTERED EMPLOYEE #1'S CHEST, INFLICTING FATAL INJURIES. FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO ANYONE, EMPLOYEE #1 HAD THE ENTIRE WELLHEAD SYSTEM, FROM THE WELL TO THE SEPARATOR, CLOSED. HE THEN OPENED THE CASING LINE BELL VALVE, ALLOWING GAS TO FLOW INTO THE SYSTEM THROUGH THE CASING LINE AND BUILD UP GAS PRESSURE. APPARENTLY THE BACK PRESSURE AGAINST THE FLOW LINE CHECK VALVE CAUSED THE VALVE TO EXPLODE. THE VALVE WAS FOUND TO BE RATED AT 300 POUNDS WORKING PRESSURE (450 POUNDS TEST). IT WAS BEING USED IN A SYSTEM WITH A WORKING PRESSURE OF UP TO 2,000 POUNDS.
Keywords: chest, gas well, check valve, explosion, high pressure pipe, high pressure, wellhead, flying object
Employee # Inspection Age Sex Degree Nature Occupation
1 1571777 Fatality Puncture Occupation not reported

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