OSHA Inspection: HAMM AND PHILLIPS SERVICE COMPANY

Issued

May 7, 1996

Abate by

May 13, 1996

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

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 fire hazard when mud was being pumped into the well
forcing oil and natural
gas up to a vacuum pump truck. The natural gas was coming out of the
vacuum truck vent into
the immediate work area at the well that was located in a low terrain area
and there was little
or no wind blowing. Among other methods one feasible and acceptable
abatement method to
correct this hazard is to vent the vacuum tank downwind of the work area
by attaching a length
of hose sufficient to reach an area that is free from people and ignition
sources.
in that employees
were exposed to a fire hazard when mud was being pumped into the well
forcing oil and gas up
to a vacuum pump truck:
The gas was coming out of the vacuum pump exhaust into the immediate work
area at the well
that was located in a low terrain area and there was little or no wind
blowing. Among other
methods one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this
hazard is to vent the
vacuum pump exhaust downwind of the work area by attaching a length of
hose sufficient to
reach and free from people and ignition sources.