OSHA Inspection: CORNELL SOLUTIONS

Issued

Apr 23, 2015

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,183 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, employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards while performing oil and gas flow-back operations.  The employer allowed:    a)    an Allmand Light/Power Plant, Model Night-Lite 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;    c)     a Rough Terrain Telehandler, Genie Model TT-TEREX-SBFL, which was not approved for the hazardous location;     d)    Torque wrench which 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, employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards while performing oil and gas flow-back operations.  The employer allowed:  a)    an Allmand Light/Power Plant, Model Night-Lite 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;  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 $7,000 · Current $4,183 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, employees performing flow-back operation on well heads were exposed to chemical hazards associated with oil and gas wells.  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

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,183 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 and equipped to render first aid:    At this job site, for employees participating in flow back operations at washburn ranch well site 01-05H, 01-06H and 01-07H in this remote area where a fire occurred and employees were burned, 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 occurs.

Issued

Apr 23, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,183 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, 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. A torque wrench was plugged into an electrical outlet on a Night-Light Pro II Portable Light Tower. The electrical equipment used on the portable light tower electrical outlet exceeded the ampere rating of the outlet.

Issued

Apr 23, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $2,520 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 well site, employees were unbolting the wire line BOP from the frac valve using a torque machine and the actuator which was being energized by a light plant generator.  Employees were working within as little as 2 feet of a well bore which was being depressurized and had flammable gas, mist, vapors coming from an open tank.  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.