OSHA Inspection: NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

Issued

Dec 18, 2014

Abate by

Feb 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 respiratory hazards during tank gauging and crude oil sampling operations:    (a)  Noble Energy Inc, at Wells Ranch Econode 5 & 6, Gill, CO: On and preceding 6/24/14, Noble Energy Inc 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 respiratory hazards during tank gauging and crude oil sampling operations.  Employees performed venting of tanks and gauging of crude oil at the oil well tank battery.  Workers performed these tasks at open thief hatches and adjacent to opened blow down vents.  Flammable hydrocarbon gases were vented through open thief hatches and blow down vents.  The employer did not develop and utilize procedures for gauging and sampling that did not expose employees to an oxygen deficient atmosphere and hydrocarbon gases and vapors.  This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.    Abatement Note:  Among other methods, feasible abatement methods include:    (1)  Installation and use of ground level tank gauges to eliminate need for employees to climb onto tanks to perform tank gauging.  Refer to American Petroleum Institute Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards Chapter 3.1B "Standard Practice for Level Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons in Stationary Tanks by Automatic Tank Gauging".

Issued

Dec 18, 2014

Abate by

Feb 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace:    (a) Noble Energy Inc, at Wells Ranch Econode 5 & 6, Gill, CO: On and preceding 6/24/14, Noble Energy Inc did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace.  Employees performed venting of tanks and gauging of crude oil at the oil well tank battery.  Employees performed these tasks at open thief hatches and adjacent to opened blow down vents.  Flammable hydrocarbon gases were vented through open thief hatches and blow down vents.  The employer did not evaluate employee exposure to respiratory hazards, including oxygen deficient atmospheres and hydrocarbon gases and vapors, including benzene.  This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.