OSHA Inspection: BRIGHAM EXPLORATION COMPANY

Issued

2003-01-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2003-01-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $56000.00 · Current $31500.00 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 fire  hazard:
On or about July 11, 2002, at times prior and there to, at the Burkhart
Well site
#1R, employees were exposed to a fire  hazard caused by gas vapor escaping
in
the presence of potential ignition sources:
Failure to restrict operation of vehicles or equipment in areas of
flammable leaks;
failure to ensure that pressurized flow line could not be flexed or hit by
vehicles
or equipment; failure to keep employees from working in and around the flow
line, stepping across and/or lifting the flow line; failure to maintain
piping system
in good operating condition; failure to ensure piping, hoses, valves and
other
fittings were not operated at pressures greater than their rated working
pressure.
One feasible and acceptable abatement, including but not limited to
following, is
to ensure that piping, hoses, and pressure relief devices are designed to
meet the
requirements of American Petroleum Institute Standard (API) 54-99,
Recommended Practices for Occupational Safety of Oil Well Drilling and
Servicing, Sections 6.1.6, 6.4.10, 12.1.6 and 12.1.9; American Energy
Service
Companies (AESC), Recommended Safe Procedures and Guidelines for Oil and
Gas Well Servicing, paragraphs 3.20 and 17.3; and International
Association of
Drilling Contractors (IADC) Accident Prevention Reference Guide Section V
and
"Operations specifics.   Ensuring that the proper equipment is used and
kept in
good condition will prevent the pipeline from leaking gas.  In addition,
forklifts,
trucks and other potential ignition sources should not be used near a
pipeline that
has leaks or the potential for leakage.

Issued

2003-01-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2003-01-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $56000.00 · Current $31500.00 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 struck by hazard:
On or about July 11, 2002 at times prior and thereto, at the Burkhart Well
site
#1R, employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by pressurized
flowline or pressurized gas due to the following:
Failure to secure and/or restrain the flowline.
One feasible and acceptable abatement including, but not limited to, the
following, is to have piping, hoses, and pressure relief devices designed
to meet
the requirements of American Petroleum Institute Standard (API) 54-99,
Recommended Practices for Occupational Safety of Oil Well Drilling and
Servicing, Sections 6.4.18, 9.13.3, and 12.1.6;  American Energy Service
Companies (AESC) Recommended Safe Procedures and Guidelines for Oil and
Gas Well Servicing, 1997, Special Operations; and International
Association
of
Drilling Contractors (IADC) Accident Prevention Reference Guide, 1998,
paragraphs 3.20 and 17.3.

Issued

2003-01-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2003-01-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $56000.00 · Current $7000.00 Reduced