Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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/explosion hazard: At the Garcia Lease Well #5 during well workover operations, the employer did not protect employees from the recognized hazard of static electricity (ignition source) in the presence of potentially combustible/flammable mixtures. On April 8, 1999, an employee was fatally struck by flying parts from a vacuum truck where the cargo tank exploded while accepting an overflow of petroleum oil/gas mixture via direct connection to the well head. Among others, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct these hazards would be to provide for adequate bonding on vacuum trucks used for handling combustible/flammable mixtures where a potential for static electrical discharge exists, as referenced in the API Recommended Practice 2003 (1991), Paragraph 5.6 which states, "Ignitions have occurred during the removal of flammable hydrocarbons via vacuum trucks. Suction hoses and conductive pipe wands should be electrically continuous and directly bonded to the vessel that is being cleaned. Nonconductive hoses or pipe wands should not be used. Spiral- wire-reinforced hose should be tested on a regular basis to verify its electrical continuity." A more effective and reliable means of protection would be to use a dedicated bonding cable system that is regularly inspected/tested.