OSHA Inspection: PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC.

Issued

Feb 2, 2001

Abate by

Feb 6, 2001

Penalty

Initial $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 struck-by hazard:
Employee was exposed to a struck-by hazard and injuries related to sudden
and
violent release of pressure as a result of the ten (10) inch Mechanical Pig
Receiver, at the Kawitt Facility of the 844 Gathering System Pipeline, not
being
equipped with a functional pressure gauge, as required in Department of
Transportation 49 CFR 195.426 Scraper and Sphere Facilities.  The employer
had
not developed and implemented written procedures for the launching and
retrieval
of mechanical pigs during Pigging Operations of the 844 Gathering System
Pipeline, along with the lack of proper and adequate training to ensure
that
employees are aware of the pressure hazards to which they are exposed.
This
occurred on or about August 08, 2000, at the Receiver of the Kawitt
Facility,
seven (7) miles North of Runge, Texas on Hwy 72, Nordheim, Texas 78141.
Among other methods, one (1) feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct the hazard is to develop and implement written procedures for the
launching and retrieval of mechanical pigs during Pigging Operations of
the 844
Gathering System Pipeline and to properly and adequately train employees
in the
correct sequence of steps of the Pigging Operation when launching and
retrieving
mechanical pigs.