OSHA Inspection: KINDER MORGAN LIQUIDS TERMINALS LLC

Issued

Sep 14, 2005

Abate by

Sep 26, 2005

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $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:
On or about the afternoon of 7/5/05 employees working with, and in the
vicinity of, a section
of compressed air hose that was not secured to prevent "whipping", were
exposed to the hazard
of being struck by sections of 3/4" i.d. hose, should the hose section
become detached while
under pressure. Employees were further exposed to the hazard of the
"whipping" action in the
event of hose failure in that the air compressor used to generate the
compressed air was not
equipped with a safety device that would reduce air pressure in case of
hose failure.
Among others, feasible and acceptable means to correct this hazard would
be to use a clip, wire,
or pin to prevent the hose connections from becoming disconnected, a
safety cable or other
means to restrain the hose ends should the hose connection become
disconnected, and / or to
install a flow limiting / excess flow valve in line between the compressor
and hose to reduce
pressure in the event of hose failure, or hose separation.