Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 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: Employees, required to perform work at the well head (T.H.S.U. #281), were exposed to the hazards of hydrocarbon gas/fluid fires/explosions (as did occur on March 8, 1993) and had not been provided protection that ensured (transport vehicles, and other ignition sources) proper position. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to abate these conditions would be for the employer to enforce his own policies and/or abide by the American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practices #54 (API RP 54) to position all vehicles not involved immediately in rig operations at least 100 feet from the well bore.