OSHA Inspection: EQUITABLE GAS COMPANY

Issued

Apr 1, 2003

Abate by

Apr 4, 2003

Penalty

Initial $5,000

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 explosion hazards:
(a) Jobsite located at 119 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA: On or about
12-18-02 crews were working to install a
new service line to the CAPA school. The job consisted of installing 50
feet of 6 inch steel gas service line
with the  a tie in from an 8 inch line. The 6 inch new gas line was purged
with air, then after the air test, the
entire six inch line was purged with natural gas through the butterfly
vale and into the basement of the CAPA
jobsite.  The line was only purged to 60 percent natural gas at the flange
drop inside the meter room. This
created the potential for the air and gas to mix causing a flammable
atmosphere.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement to
correct this hazard is to purge to
100 percent natural gas in accordance with the National Fuel Gas Code
Handbook, 1999 Edition, page 104,
sections 4.3.2 thru 4.3.4; the National Safety Council, Natural Gas Safety
Handbook for Utility Workers and
Contractors, pages 65 and 66; and in accordance with the Equitable
Resources, Inc. Planned Shutdown/Tie- In
Procedures dated approximately 12-17-02.

Issued

Apr 1, 2003

Abate by

Apr 4, 2003