OSHA Inspection: GREENE'S ENERGY GROUP LLC

Issued

Jul 29, 2008

Abate by

Aug 22, 2008

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 to each of his employees a place of employment which was 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 due to a sudden and violent
release of a nitrogen
pressurized pipe.
On or about 20 April 2008 the employer failed to ensure that a high
pressure gas
line was depressurized prior to removing test equipment. The contractor was
using nitrogen to pressure test newly installed gas lines at the liquid
natural gas
(LNG) facility. Failure to verify line pressures exposed employee(s) to a
struck-
by hazard.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement could consist of the
development of a Standard Operating Procedure that required direct
measurement
of the pressure at the actual test vessel to verify that it was fully
de-pressurized
and to develop a training program consistent with the Procedure.
DISCLAIMERS:
1) You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases.
3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate
method.