OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14548234

HEAD,SHOULDER,LACERATION,FRACTURE,MAINTENANCE,OIL WELL DRILLING,HIGH PRESSURE,STRUCK BY,WELLHEAD,VERTEBRA

1985-05-06T00:00:00

Event: HEAD,SHOULDER,LACERATION,FRACTURE,MAINTENANCE,OIL WELL DRILLING,HIGH PRESSURE,STRUCK BY,WELLHEAD,VERTEBRA
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14548234
Report ID: 1050210

Event description

HIGH PRESSURE IN WELLHEAD BLEW, INJURING EMPLOYEES

Investigation abstract

THE EMPLOYEES WERE CHANGING TUBING STEEL AT THE WELLHEAD. EMPLOYEE #3 BACKED DOW ERATIONS. NONE OF THE EMPLOYEES THOUGHT TO CHECK THE PRESSURE IN THE ANNULUS BEF ORE LOOSENING THE LOCK-DOWN SCREWS. N THE LOCKING SCREWS OF THE "PACK OFF", LOCATED BETWEEN THE SEVEN INCH CASING AN D THE 10 3/4 INCH SURFACE PIPE. THERE WAS ABOUT 850 PSI IN THE ANNULUS OF THE WE LL BELOW THE "PACK-OFF". WHEN THE LAST LOCK-DOWN SCREW WAS LOOSENED, THE "PACK-O FF" FLEW OFF ITS SEAT. THE "ARCTIC PACK" FLUID WAS EJECTED UNDER GREAT PRESSURE. THE FOUR EMPLOYEES WERE KNOCKED BACKWARDS BY THE RELEASE OF HIGH PRESSURE. THE WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT WAS MANUFACTURED BY THE F.M.C. CORPORATION (GENERATION ONE). EMPLOYEE #1 RECIEVED A DISLOCATED SHOULDER. EMPLOYEES #2 AND #3 RECIEVED "ARCTIC PACK" SKIN PENETRATIONS. EMPLOYEE #4 RECIEVED A FRACTURED VERTEBRA AND HEAD LAC

Victims (4)

#1 Non-hospitalized injury Age 30 M

Nature of injury
9

Part of body
21

Event type
6

Source
2

Occupation code
614

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
15

Hazardous substance
2037

Task assigned
1
#2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 30 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
13

Event type
10

Source
35

Occupation code
614

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
15

Hazardous substance
2037

Task assigned
1
#3 Non-hospitalized injury Age 30 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
13

Event type
10

Source
35

Occupation code
614

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
15

Hazardous substance
2037

Task assigned
1
#4 Hospitalized Age 30 M

Nature of injury
12

Part of body
3

Event type
6

Source
2

Occupation code
614

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
15

Hazardous substance
2037

Task assigned
1

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