OSHA Inspection: COMPLETE ENERGY SERVICES, INC.

Issued

May 3, 2018

Abate by

Jun 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $10,477 · Current $10,477

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 a fire hazard:  (a) Complete Energy Services Inc, dba Northern Plains Trucking, at Highway 392 and Weld County Road 71, N 0.9, W 0.2, Briggsdale, CO: On 11/16/17, 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 a fire hazard.  Employees of DCP Midstream LP and Complete Energy Services Inc were involved in the removal of a hydrate blockage within a DCP Midstream LP pipeline.  The DCP Midstream LP pipeline transported approximately 350 psi natural gas and other products of crude oil and gas extraction.  The removal of the hydrate blockage involved depressurizing the upstream portion of the pipeline, by venting gases, vapors, and liquids to a vacuum truck via a high pressure hose connected to a fitting with valve at the pig launcher.  Flammable liquids remained in the vacuum truck's tank, while flammable gases and vapors were exhausted from a hatch on the top of the vacuum truck tank.  The flammable gases and vapors ignited, resulting in a flash fire.  Complete Energy Services Inc did not ensure that all potential ignition sources were eliminated or controlled.  This condition exposed two employees of Complete Energy Services Inc to a fire hazard.

Issued

May 3, 2018

Abate by

Jun 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $6,361 · Current $11,450

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(2)(ii): The employer's energy control program under paragraph (c)(1) of this section did not utilize lockout, where the energy isolating device was capable of being locked out:    (a) Complete Energy Services Inc, dba Northern Plains Trucking, at Highway 392 and Weld County Road 71, N 0.9, W 0.2, Briggsdale, CO: On 11/16/17, the employer's energy control program under paragraph (c)(1) of this section did not utilize lockout, where the energy isolating device was capable of being locked out.  Employees of DCP Midstream LP and Complete Energy Services Inc were involved in the removal of a hydrate blockage within a DCP Midstream LP pipeline.  The DCP Midstream LP pipeline transported approximately 350 psi natural gas and other products of crude oil and gas extraction.  The high pressure natural gas was both a pneumatic energy source and a thermal energy source.  An employee of DCP Midstream LP closed one downstream block valve and one upstream block valve at the approximate ends of the one mile length section of piping.  Employees of Complete Energy Services Inc did not place locks or tags on either block valve.  The valves were capable of being locked out when closed.  This condition exposed employees of Complete Energy Services Inc to uncontrolled energy hazards.    (b) Complete Energy Services Inc, dba Northern Plains Trucking, at Highway 392 and Weld County Road 71, N 0.9, W 0.2, Briggsdale, CO: On 11/16/17, the employer's energy control program under paragraph (c)(1) of this section did not utilize lockout, where the energy isolating device was capable of being locked out.  Employees of DCP Midstream LP and Complete Energy Services Inc were involved in the removal of a hydrate blockage within a DCP Midstream LP pipeline at a PDC Energy Inc tank battery.  The tank battery included heater treaters, which used heat to separate oil from water.  The heat was provided by burning natural gas.  The high pressure natural gas was both a pneumatic energy source and a thermal energy source.  An employee of DCP Midstream LP closed pipeline valves.  Employees of Complete Energy Services Inc did not place locks or tags on the gas valves.  The valves were capable of being locked out when closed.  This condition exposed employees of Complete Energy Services Inc to an uncontrolled energy hazard.    (c) Complete Energy Services Inc, dba Northern Plains Trucking, at Highway 392 and Weld County Road 71, N 0.9, W 0.2, Briggsdale, CO: On 11/16/17, the employer's energy control program under paragraph (c)(1) of this section did not utilize lockout, where the energy isolating device was capable of being locked out.  Employees of DCP Midstream LP and Complete Energy Services Inc were involved in the removal of a hydrate blockage within a DCP Midstream LP pipeline at a PDC Energy Inc tank battery.  The tank battery included a compressor.  The compressor had thermal, pneumatic, and electrical energy sources.  An employee of DCP Midstream LP vented the compressor and shut off the starter.  Employees of Complete Energy Services Inc did not place locks or tags on the valve or on the starter.  The valves and starter were capable of being locked out.  This condition exposed employees of Complete Energy Services Inc to an uncontrolled energy hazard.

Issued

May 3, 2018

Abate by

Jun 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices:    (a) Complete Energy Services Inc, dba Northern Plains Trucking, at Highway 392 and Weld County Road 71, N 0.9, W 0.2, Briggsdale, CO: On and preceding 11/16/17, the employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices.  Employees of DCP Midstream LP and Complete Energy Services Inc were involved in the removal of a hydrate blockage within a DCP Midstream LP pipeline.  The DCP Midstream LP pipeline transported approximately 350 psi natural gas and other products of crude oil and gas extraction.  The high pressure natural gas was both a pneumatic energy source and a thermal energy source.  Employees did not apply and use energy control devices when the DCP Midstream LP employee closed pipeline valves, vented a compressor, and shut off a starter.  The employer did not adequately train the employees regarding the application and use of energy control devices.  This condition exposed employees of Complete Energy Services Inc to uncontrolled energy hazards.

Issued

May 3, 2018

Abate by

Jun 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(2)(i): When outside servicing personnel were engaged in activities in a facility, the onsite employer and the outside employer did not inform each other of their respective lockout or tagout procedures:    (a) Complete Energy Services Inc, dba Northern Plains Trucking, at Highway 392 and Weld County Road 71, N 0.9, W 0.2, Briggsdale, CO: On 11/16/17, when outside servicing personnel were engaged in activities in a facility, the onsite employer and the outside employer did not inform each other of their respective lockout or tagout procedures.  Employees of DCP Midstream LP and Complete Energy Services Inc were involved in the removal of a hydrate blockage within a DCP Midstream LP pipeline.  The DCP Midstream LP pipeline transported approximately 350 psi natural gas and other products of crude oil and gas extraction.  The high pressure natural gas was both a pneumatic energy source and a thermal energy source.  Complete Energy Services Inc and DCP Midstream LP did not inform each other of their respective lockout/tagout procedures.  This condition exposed employees of Complete Energy Services Inc to uncontrolled energy hazards.

Issued

May 3, 2018

Abate by

Jun 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii): Group lockout or tagout devices were not used in accordance with procedures required by 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4):    (a) Complete Energy Services Inc, dba Northern Plains Trucking, at Highway 392 and Weld County Road 71, N 0.9, W 0.2, Briggsdale, CO: On 11/16/17, group lockout or tagout devices were not used in accordance with procedures required by 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4).  Employees of DCP Midstream LP and Complete Energy Services Inc were involved in the removal of a hydrate blockage within a DCP Midstream LP pipeline.  The DCP Midstream LP pipeline transported approximately 350 psi natural gas and other products of crude oil and gas extraction.  The high pressure natural gas was both a pneumatic energy source and a thermal energy source.  An employee of DCP Midstream LP closed pipeline valves, vented a compressor, and shut off a starter.  Employees of Complete Energy Services Inc did not place locks or tags on valves or the starter.  Complete Energy Services Inc did not ensure that employees participated in group lockout of the valves and starter.  This condition exposed employees of Complete Energy Services Inc to uncontrolled energy hazards.

Issued

May 3, 2018

Abate by

Jun 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $10,477 · Current $10,477

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(i): The employer did not ensure that employee training included methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.):    (a) Complete Energy Services Inc, dba Northern Plains Trucking, at Highway 392 and Weld County Road 71, N 0.9, W 0.2, Briggsdale, CO: On and preceding 11/16/17, the employer did not ensure that employee training included methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.).  Employees were involved with the removal of hydrate blockages within DCP Midstream LP pipelines.  DCP Midstream LP pipelines transported natural gas and other products of crude oil and gas extraction.  The hydrate blockage removal process included venting of the contents of the pipeline to reduce internal pressure.  Venting of the pipeline released flammable hydrocarbon gases and liquids into the work environment.  Employees continued working in an environment where flammable gases were present while their four gas meters alerted them to hazardous levels of flammable gases.  The employer did not provide effective training to the employees regarding the detection of flammable gases.  This condition exposed the employees to a fire hazard.

Issued

May 3, 2018

Abate by

Jun 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,089 · Current $0 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) Complete Energy Services Inc, dba Northern Plains Trucking, at Highway 392 and Weld County Road 71, N 0.9, W 0.2, Briggsdale, CO: On and preceding 11/16/17, the employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace.  Complete Energy Services Inc employees assisted employees of DCP Midstream LP to remove hydrate blockages within DCP Midstream LP pipelines.  DCP Midstream LP pipelines transported natural gas and other products of crude oil and gas extraction.  The hydrate blockage removal process included venting of the contents of the pipeline to reduce internal pressure.  Venting of the pipeline released hydrocarbon gases and liquids into the work environment.  The employer did not evaluate employee exposure to respiratory hazards, including hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbon gases and vapors, including benzene during the venting process.  This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.