OSHA Inspection: PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC.

Issued

Apr 23, 2015

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(b)(6):  In locations where flammable vapors may be present, precautions were not taken to prevent ignition by eliminating or controlling sources of ignition:  At this location, an employee was exposed to fire and explosion hazards during oil and gas flow-back operations.  The employer allowed spark producing equipment to be operated in hazardous location:  a)    an Allmand Light/Power Plant, Model Night-Light Pro II, which was not approved for the hazardous location;  b)     a Telehandler, JLG Model G9-43A, which was not approved for the hazardous location; and,  c)     a Rough Terrain Telehandler, Genie Model TT-TEREX-SBFL, witch was not approved for the hazardous location.

Issued

Apr 23, 2015

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c)(3): Equipment was not safe for the location in that it was not of a type and design that the employer demonstrated would provide protection from the hazards arising from the combustibility and flammability of vapors, liquids, gases, dusts, or fibers involved:  At this location, an employee was exposed to fire and explosion hazards during oil and gas flow-back operations.  The employer allowed unapproved or spark producing equipment to be operated in hazardous locations:  a)    an Allmand Light/Power Plant, Model Night-Light Pro II, which was not approved for the hazardous location;  b)     a Telehandler, JLG Model G9-43A, which was not approved for the hazardous location; and,  c)     a Rough Terrain Telehandler, Genie Model TT-TEREX-SBFL, which was not approved for the hazardous location.

Issued

Apr 23, 2015

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:  At this location, an employee was exposed to chemical hazards associated with oil and gas wells during flow-back operation on well heads.  The employer did not identify nor evaluate hazards including but not limited to those of the vapors and gasses being released to atmosphere at the site.

Issued

Apr 23, 2015

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(b): There was neither an infirmary, clinic, or hospital used for the treatment of all injured employees in near proximity to the workplace nor a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid:  At this job site, an employee was burned and hospitalized during flow back operations at the Washburn Ranch well site 01-05H, 01-06H and 01-07H. The employer did not take appropriate steps prior to any accident to ascertain that emergency medical assistance or trained and equipped personnel would be promptly available when an injury occurred.

Issued

Apr 23, 2015

Abate by

May 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(b)(4): Outlet devices did not have an ampere rating not less than the load to be served:  At this job site, subcontractor employees were permitted to utilize an electric torque wrench to remove and replace bolts on an oil and gas well blow out preventer and a wire-line blow out preventer. The torque wrench was plugged into an electrical outlet on a Night-Light Pro II Portable Light Tower, by Allmand. The Portable Light Tower electrical outlet was rated at 20 amps and the equipment powered by the outlet exceeded this rating.

Issued

Apr 23, 2015

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(g)(2)(i): Locations were not classified depending on the properties of the flammable vapors, liquids, or gases that may be present and the likelihood that a flammable or combustible concentration or quantity is present:  At this location, employees monitoring pressure gauges during bleed-off operations on oil and gas well head #6 were exposed to fire and explosion hazards associated flammable gases and vapors.  The employer did not classify the work area and designate areas where electrical equipment could be used depending on the properties of the gases, vapors or other hazards that may have been present during this and other workplace operations.