OSHA Inspection: WESTERN GAS RESOURCES STORAGE, INC.

Issued

Dec 7, 1994

Abate by

Feb 17, 1995

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

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 being seriously injured due to being struck by high
pressure
gas and/or well fluids and portions of the piping structure from failed
connections in the pipe fittings, valves and unions placed on the blowout
preventer valve installed on the wellhead at the number four wellsite,
located at the Katy Storage Field.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement
method to correct this hazard is to ensure that all pipe fittings,
valves, and unions placed on or connected with blowout prevention
equipment, well casing, casinghead, drill pipe and tubing, has a
working pressure rating equal to or greater than the maximum
anticipated well surface pressure as required by paragraph 5.4.3 of
RP 54 Recommended Practices for Occupational Safety and Health
for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations.
DISCLAIMERS:
1)You are not limited to the abatement methods
suggested above.
2)The methods explained are general and may not be
effective in all cases.
3)The employer is responsible for selecting and
carrying out an appropriate abatement method.nt