OSHA Inspection: THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES

Issued

Jun 15, 2020

Abate by

Aug 17, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,735 · Current $5,735

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)  The Williams Companies, at 23759 Weld County Road 34.5, La Salle, CO: On and preceding 3/2/2020, The Williams Companies 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 performed pigging operations at a compressor facility.  During the pigging process, flammable liquids, vapors, and gases were released from the receiver and launcher.  Employees continued to perform pigging as flammable liquids were drained into open topped cattle troughs and vapors and gases were released from the launcher and receiver.  Potential ignition sources, such as but not limited to a non-intrinsically safe tool, internal combustion engines, frictional heat, and mechanical sparks, were in proximity to the operation or created by the operation.  The flammable liquids, vapors, and gases were ignited and a fire resulted.  The Williams Companies did not ensure that all potential fuel and ignition sources were eliminated or controlled.  This condition exposed employees of The Williams Companies to a fire hazard.

Issued

Jun 15, 2020

Abate by

Jul 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): When the employer had assessed the workplace hazard(s) and determined that hazard(s) were present, the employer did not select and/or use the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee from the hazard(s) identified:  (a)  The Williams Companies, at 23759 Weld County Road 34.5, La Salle, CO: On and preceding 3/2/2020, when the employer had assessed the workplace hazards and determined that hazards were present, the employer did not select and/or use the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee from the hazards identified.  Employees performed pigging operations at a compressor facility.  During the pigging process, flammable liquids, vapors, and gases were released from the receiver when retrieving pigs.  Employees were splashed by the hydrocarbon liquids.  Employees wore non-flame resistant coveralls over their flame resistant (FR) clothing.  The employer did not ensure that employees wore a flame resistant material over their flame resistant clothing to protect from chemical splash without reducing the protective ability of the flame resistant clothing.  This condition exposed the employees to a thermal burn hazard.

Issued

Jun 15, 2020

Abate by

Jul 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,735 · Current $5,735

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:  (a)  The Williams Companies, at 23759 Weld County Road 34.5, La Salle, CO: On and preceding 3/2/2020, The Williams Companies did not ensure that procedures were developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section.  Employees performed pigging operations on gas pipelines.  Pigging was performed to clean and maintain gas pipelines entering and exiting the facility.  The flammable hydrocarbon liquids, vapors and gases in the piping were chemical and thermal energy sources.  Employees performing this maintenance activity operated valves of the pipelines, isolating the chemical and thermal energies of the flammable gas stream, prior to retrieving or launching pigs.  The employer did not ensure that procedures were developed, documented, and utilized for the control of the hazardous chemical and thermal energies present for receiving and for launching pigs.  This condition exposed employees to uncontrolled hazardous thermal and chemical energy hazards.

Issued

Jun 15, 2020

Abate by

Jul 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator's performance was evaluated at least once every three years:  (a)  The Williams Companies, at 23759 Weld County Road 34.5, La Salle, CO: On and preceding 3/2/2020, The Williams Companies did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator's performance was evaluated at least once every three years.  Employees operated a JLG SkyTrak model 6036 at a compressor facility.  One employee had received powered industrial truck training at another division, located in a different regional area, within The Williams Companies in March 2016.  The employer had not evaluated the operator's performance at least once every three years.  This condition potentially exposed employees to a struck-by hazard.