ACCIDENTSUMMARYAccidentType:..............................................FlashfirefromcrudeoilvaporsWeatherConditions:......................................................................Clear,sunnyTypeofOperation:............................................Oilwellservicing/ProductionSizeofWorkCrew:.............................................................................................3WorksiteInspectionConductedbyEmployer:..........................................NoCompetentSafetyMonitoringonSite:........................................................NoSafetyandHealthProgramInEffect:................................................MinimalTrainingandEducationforEmployees:.............................................MinimalJobTitleofDeceasedEmployee:........................................................LaborerAge/SexofDeceasedEmployee:..............................................................26/MTimeonJob:................................................................................................1dayTimeatTask:............................................................................................2hoursShortServiceEmployee(<1Year):.............................................................YesTimeEmployed:...................................................................................2monthsBRIEFDESCRIPTIONOFACCIDENTThreeemployeeswereworkingonaleakingcrudeoilflowlinethatconnectedaproductionwelltoitstankbattery.Theydugatrenchtoaccesstheleakingflowlineandcutouta6-ft.longsectionfromthepipeusingacoldcutter.Twooftheemployeesattemptedtothreadthecutontheflowlinewithamanualpipethreadingmachine(threader)butthediesonthethreaderweredull.Therefore,theworkersaskedtheofficetohavenewdiesforthemachinedeliveredtothesite.Insteadofinstallingthenewdiesinthemanualpipethreaderthatwasusedearlier,thedieswereinstalledinanelectricpipethreader.Twooftheemployeesgotinthetrenchwiththeelectricpipethreaderandstartedtothreadtheexposedpipewhenflammablevaporswereignitedbytheelectricpipethreader.Asaresult,aflashfireengulfedthetrenchinflames.Thethirdemployeedischargedtwofireextinguisherstoextinguishthefire.Thetwoemployeesthatwereinthetrenchwerehospitalizedwithsecond-andthird-degreeburnstotheirarms,neckandfaces.Oneoftheseemployeesdiedatthehospital.Theotherburnedemployeewashospitalizedandreleasedatalaterdate.Cutendofpipeintrench.YouHaveaVoiceintheWorkplaceTheOccupationalSafetyandHealthActof1970affordsworkerstherighttoasafeworkplace(seeOSHA’sWorkerRightspage,www.osha.gov/workers.html).WorkersalsohavetherighttofileacomplaintwithOSHAiftheybelievethatthereareeitherviolationsofOSHAstandardsorseriousworkplacehazards.HowOSHACanHelpForquestionsortogetinformationoradvice,toreportanemergency,reportafatalityorcatastrophe,ortofileaconfidentialcomplaint,contactyournearestOSHAoffice,visitwww.osha.govorcallourtoll-freenumberat1-800-321-OSHA(6742),TTY1-877-889-5627.It’sconfidential.MoreInformationUpstreamoilandgassafetyandhealth:www.osha.gov/SLTC/oilgaswelldrilling/index.htmlOSHAstandardsandregulations:www.osha.gov/law-regs.htmlOSHApublications:www.osha.gov/publicationsOSHA’sfreeOn-siteConsultationservices:www.osha.gov/consultationTrainingresources:www.osha.gov/dte/index.htmlACCIDENTPREVENTION1.Performjobhazardanalyses(JHAs)priortobeginningworktodeterminepotentialhazardsofthejobandtheircontrolssuchasleakingflammablevaporsfromequipmentthathadpreviouslycontainedhydrocarbons,controlofignitionsources,workinginexcavations,andlockout/tagout.2.Donotuseelectricaltoolsandequipmentthatarenotapprovedforthehazardouslocationwheretheworkistobeperformed,i.e.,donotallowunapprovedelectricaltoolsandequipmenttobeanignitionsourceforflammablevapors.3.Developandimplementahotworkpermittingprogramthatincludesatmosphericmonitoringforconcentrationsofflammablevaporsandprovideventilationtolimittheconcentrationofflammablevaporstobelow10%oftheirLEL.U.S.DepartmentofLaborOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministrationwww.osha.gov(800)321-OSHA(6742)Note:Thedescribedcasewasselectedasbeingrepresentativeofimproperworkpracticeswhichlikelycontributedtoafatalityfromanaccident.Theaccidentpreventionrecommendationsdonotnecessarilyreflecttheoutcomeofanylegalaspectsoftheincidentcase.OSHAencouragesyourcompanyororganizationtoduplicateandsharethisinformation.4.Provideandrequiretheuseofflame-resistantclothing(FRC)forworkerswhoareexposedtoflash-firehazards.5.Provideworkertrainingemphasizingthefollowing:a.hazardsrelatedtoworkingwithpipingandotherequipmentthathascontainedhydrocarbons;b.theuseofelectricallyapprovedtoolsandequipmentforlocationswhereflammablevaporsmightbepresent,i.e.,hazardousatmospheres;andc.hazardsofworkingintrenches,forexample,engulfmenthazardsandfire/explosionhazardsduetothefactthatflammablevaporsaccumulateanddonotreadilydissipatefromtrenchesandotherlow-lyingareas.DEPFF-361812/2012
