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 the condition(s) listed below: (a) On 1/8/03, at the Duke Energy Waha Gas Plant facility, an employee was fatally injured when a pipe being pressure tested with nitrogen ruptured, striking the employee. The pipe was pressure rated for 815 pounds per square inch and was pressurized to approximately 1500 pounds per square inch when it ruptured. Concensus engineering standards require that the test pressure when using gas as a medium, not exceed the minimum specified yield strength or 110 percent of the design strength for the material being tested. Employees were exposed to an explosion hazard while checking for leaks during this pressurization process which exceeded the minimum yield strength for the pipe which exploded. One feasible method of abatement, among others, would be to use the guidelines prescribed by the American Petroleum Industry (API) Standard 570, American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Standard B31.3, and ANSI Standard B31.8 which all relate to inspection and testing of pressure piping in petroleum and in gas transmission processes. Abatement Certification and Documentation is required for this item.