OSHA Inspection: PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT CORP

Issued

2007-03-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2007-06-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1750.00 · Current $1225.00 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 burns and/or asphyxiation due to inadvertent release of
pressurized natural gas:
a)  Petroleum Development Corp., Garden Gulch compressor station,
Parachute, Colorado:  On and prior to 2/13/2007, employee(s) installing a
"water knockout" receiver system were exposed to the hazard of burns and/or
asphyxiation due to inadvertent release of pressurized natural gas. The
control
valves used to isolate a 2200 foot long 8" gas line prior to being worked
on were
capable of being opened prematurely. Premature opening of these isolation
valves
would allow flammable gas into the area where heat and spark producing
equipment was being used.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to develop and implement a written hazardous energy control
program in accordance with the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI)-
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Z244.1-2003 publication.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").-Certification

Issued

2007-03-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2007-03-29 00:00:00