OSHA Inspection: BLUEWATER ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.

Issued

Aug 3, 2010

Abate by

Aug 9, 2010

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $0 Reduced

Emphasis program

X

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 recogn
ized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm
in that the method used to clean the 561 main fuel gas line pipes - blowing nat
ural gas through them at high velocity - was not implemented in such a way as to
protect employees from the hazard of an explosion caused by venting large amoun
ts of natural gas into areas where it could accumulate and where, or in close pr
oximity to where, ignition sources existed. The following conditions and practic
es contributed to the existence of this hazard: the vent pipe configured close t
o and below scaffolding, in close proximity to the Power Generation Building, in
between two approximately 115 foot tall Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs)
and well below the tops of all of those structures; the failure to eliminate ope
n flame ignition sources, including but not limited to propane heaters; construc
tion work occurring during the gas blow process; individuals other than
those essential to conducting the gas blows working in the area during the gas b
low process; and the inability to readily control the amount and pressure of gas
flowing through the main gas fuel line. On February 7, 2010, employees were exp
osed to serious or fatal impact and other injuries from an explosion hazard crea
ted when a large amount of natural gas was blown at high velocity through CT#1 M
ain Knockout Drum Vent Pipe (561-TNK-1002) into the area between the two HRSGs a
nd close to buildings, scaffolding, partially enclosed work areas, and other str
uctures that were adjacent to the Power Generation Building in which employees w
orked and in or around which open flame ignition sources, including but not limi
ted to propane heaters, existed, construction work was occurring, and numerous e
mployees non-essential to conducting the gas blow were working.
When natural gas is chosen for this method of cleaning gas line pipes, feasible
means of abatement to eliminate or materially reduce the hazard are to ensure th
at the vent pipe is positioned vertically and above the Power Generation Buildin
g and all other nearby structures, or horizontally to a location away from struc
tures that could inhibit the adequate dispersal of the gas; ensure that any and
all ignition sources are eliminated; ensure that any and all construction activi
ty ceases during the gas blow process; ensure that all workers other than those
essential to conducting the gas blows are removed from the building and area aro
und which the gas blows are occurring; and ensure the use of devices to control
the amount and pressure of gas vented, such as a fast closing pipe shut-off valv
e and a gas pressure control valve.

Issued

Aug 3, 2010

Abate by

Aug 9, 2010

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $0 Reduced

Emphasis program

X

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 recogn
ized hazards that were
causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that the method use
d to clean the 561 main fuel gas line pipes - blowing natural gas through them a
t high velocity - was not implemented in such a way as to protect employees from
the hazard of an explosion caused by venting large amounts of natural gas into
areas where it could accumulate and where, or in close proximity to where, ignit
ion sources existed. The following conditions and practices contributed to the e
xistence of this hazard: the vent pipe configured close to and below scaffolding
, in close proximity to the Power Generation Building, in the area immediately e
ast of the two approximately 115 foot tall Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs
) and well below the tops of all of those structures; the failure to eliminate o
pen flame ignition sources, including but not limited to propane heaters; constr
uction work occurring during the gas blow process; individuals other than those
essential to conducting the gas blows working in the area during the gas blow pr
ocess; and the inability to readily control the amount and pressure of gas
flowing through the main gas fuel line. On February 7, 2010, employees were expo
sed to serious or fatal impact and other injuries from an explosion hazard creat
ed when a large amount of natural gas was blown at high velocity through CT#2 Ma
in Knockout Drum Vent Pipe (561-TNK-2002) into the area immediately east of HRSG
number 2 and close to buildings, scaffolding, partially enclosed work areas, an
d other structures that were adjacent to the Power Generation Building in which
employees worked and in or around in which open flame ignition sources, includin
g but not limited to propane heaters, existed, construction work was occurring,
and numerous employees non-essential to conducting the gas blow were working. Wh
en natural gas is chosen for this method of cleaning gas line pipes, feasible me
ans of
abatement to eliminate or materially reduce the hazard are to ensure that the ve
nt pipe is positioned vertically and above the Power Generation Building and all
other nearby structures, or horizontally to a location away from structures tha
t could inhibit the adequate dispersal of the gas; ensure that any and all ignit
ion sources are eliminated; ensure that any and all construction activity ceases
during the gas blow process; ensure that all workers other than those essential
to conducting the gas blows are removed from the building and area around which
the gas blows are occurring; and ensure the use of devices to control the amoun
t and pressure of gas vented, such as a fast closing pipe shut-off valve and a g
as pressure control valve.

Issued

Aug 3, 2010

Abate by

Aug 9, 2010

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $0 Reduced

Emphasis program

X

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 recogn
ized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm
in that the method
used to clean the 561 main fuel gas line pipes - blowing natural gas through the
m at high velocity - was not implemented in such a way as to protect employees f
rom the hazard of an explosion caused by venting large amounts of natural gas in
to areas where it could accumulate and where, or in close proximity to where, ig
nition sources existed. The following conditions and practices contributed to th
e existence of this hazard: the vent pipe configured close to and below scaffold
ing, in close proximity to the Power Generation Building, in the area immediatel
y east of the two approximately 115 foot tall Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HR
SGs) and well below the tops of all of those structures; the failure to eliminat
e open flame ignition sources, including but not limited to propane heaters; con
struction work occurring during the gas blow process; individuals other than tho
se essential to conducting the gas blows working in the area during the gas blow
process; and the inability to readily control the amount and pressure of gas fl
owing through the
main gas fuel line. On February 7, 2010, employees were exposed to serious or fa
tal impact and other injuries from an explosion hazard created when a large amou
nt of natural gas was blown at high velocity through CT#2 Pilot Gas Filter Separ
ator "A" Vent Pipe (561- SEP-2000A) into the area immediately east of HRSG numbe
r 2 and close to buildings, scaffolding, partially enclosed work areas, and othe
r structures that were adjacent to the Power Generation Building in which employ
ees worked and in or around in which open flame ignition sources, including but
not limited to propane heaters, existed, construction work was occurring, and nu
merous employees non-essential to conducting the gas blow were working. When nat
ural gas is chosen for this method of cleaning gas line pipes, feasible means of
abatement to eliminate or materially reduce the hazard are to ensure that the
vent pipe is positioned vertically and above the Power Generation Building and a
ll other nearby structures, or horizontally to a location away from structures t
hat could inhibit the adequate dispersal of the gas; ensure that any and all ign
ition sources are eliminated; ensure that any and all construction activity ceas
es during the gas blow process; ensure that all workers other than those essenti
al to conducting the gas blows are removed from the building and area around whi
ch the gas blows are occurring; and ensure the use of devices to control the amo
unt and pressure of gas vented, such as a fast closing pipe shut-off valve and a
gas pressure control valve.

Issued

Aug 3, 2010

Abate by

Aug 9, 2010

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $0 Reduced