OSHA Inspection: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES

Issued

Dec 3, 1993

Abate by

Jan 4, 1994

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $4,500

General-duty citation text

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)  The hazards of explosion due to the inability to
stop internal combustion engines during emergency shut
down procedures.
On or about September 3, 1993 while venting natural gas
to the atmosphere for the purpose of killing a well bore
located at N.E.N.W. Section 11, Township 4 North, Range
65 West, the Cummings 335 diesel engine mounted on the
Reciprocating cement mixer and pump truck, continued to
"run on" after the operator activated the emergency shut
off system due to the introduction of natural gas into
the air intake system. An explosion occurred while the
engine was still running.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct
this hazard is to follow the RP 53 section 8.15 for
internal combustion engines. This section states that an
emergency device that will close off the combustion air
should be installed on diesel engines.