OSHA Fines Four Gas Companies Following Explosion Death
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined four Colorado-based companies for infractions that lead to an explosion last May which injured three workers and killed one.
The four energy firms were fined a total of $70,711 for allowing accumulated vapors in a crude oil tank pipeline to explode while the affected employees were busy merging two batteries owned by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.
Oscar Lopez Velasquez of Greeley, Colorado died in the explosion. His three coworkers were rushed to the hospital with third-degree burns.
OSHA's investigation found three separate hazardous violations including inadequate inspection of the worksite, failure to isolate vapors, and introducing flames into an area that had exposed flammable gas.
In the wake of t...