Translate

An official website of the United States government.

**The .gov means it's official.** Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

U.S. Department of Labor

## Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Contact UsFAQA to Z IndexLanguages- اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ (Arabic)
- Sinugbuanong Binisayâ (Cebuano)
- 官话 (Chinese-Simplified)
- 廣東話 (Chinese-Traditional)
- English
- Français (French)
- Kreyòl ayisyen (Haitian Creole)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- नेपाली (Nepali)
- Polski (Polish)
- Português (Portuguese (Brazilian))
- Русский (Russian)
- Af-Soomaali (Somali)
- Español (Spanish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
Search**
              -  Menu 

                      -  OSHA                           -                            - OSHA
                          - About OSHA
                          - Find an OSHA Office
                          - State Plans
                          - Job Safety and Health Poster
                          - Careers
                          - Freedom of Information Act
                          -  Speaker Requests 
                      -  STANDARDS                           -                            - Standards
                          - Law and Regulations
                          - Federal Registers
                          - Open for Comment
                          - Regulatory Agenda
                          - Standard Interpretations
                          - Training Requirements by Standard 
                      -  ENFORCEMENT                           -                            - Enforcement
                          - OSHA Enforcement
                          - Annual Inspection Data 
                      -  TOPICS                           -                            - Topics
                          - For Employers
                          - Worker Rights
                          - Fall Prevention
                          - Hazard Communication
                          - Heat
                          - Personal Protective Equipment
                          - Suicide Prevention
                          - Trenching and Excavation
                          - Workers Memorial 
                        -                            - By Sector
                          - Agriculture
                          - Construction
                          - Federal Agencies
                          - Healthcare
                          - Maritime
                          - Oil and Gas
                          - Warehousing 
                        -                            - Key Topics
                          - Recordkeeping Requirements and Forms
                          - Safety and Health Programs
                          -  Support After a Loss 
                          - Whistleblower Protections 
                      -  HELP AND RESOURCES                           -                            - Help and Resources
                          - Data
                          - Establishment Search
                          - Fatality Reports
                          - File a Complaint
                          - Publications
                          - Safety and Health Topics Pages
                          - Videos 
                        -                            - Compliance Assistance
                          - Compliance Assistance Specialists
                          - Consultation Services
                          - Cooperative Programs
                          - Small Business Resources 
                        -                            - Training
                          - Training Requirements and Resources
                          - Outreach Training Program (10- and 30-hour Cards)
                          - Find a Trainer
                          - Replace a Card
                          - Avoid Card Fraud
                          - OSHA Training Institute Education Centers
                          - Find a Center
                          - Search for Classes
                          - Susan Harwood Training Grants 
                      -  NEWS                           -                            - NEWS
                          - Federal Registers
                          - Media Center
                          - News Releases
                          - QuickTakes Newsletter 
                      - Contact Us
                      - FAQ
                      - A to Z Index
                      - LANGUAGES- اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ (Arabic)
- Sinugbuanong Binisayâ (Cebuano)
- 官话 (Chinese-Simplified)
- 廣東話 (Chinese-Traditional)
- English
- Français (French)
- Kreyòl ayisyen (Haitian Creole)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- नेपाली (Nepali)
- Polski (Polish)
- Português (Portuguese (Brazilian))
- Русский (Russian)
- Af-Soomaali (Somali)
- Español (Spanish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
 

### Inspection Detail

**Case Status: CLOSED**

#### **Inspection: 1319002.015 - Hydrocarbon Well Services, Inc.**

**Inspection Information - Office: Charleston**

 

**Inspection Nr**

**Report ID**

**Date Opened**

----

**Site Address**: 			   Hydrocarbon Well Services, Inc.			   125-145 Whitehair LaneWest Union, WV 26456

**Mailing Address**: 			   2934 Old Weston Road, Buckhannon, WV 26201

**Union Status**: NonUnion

**SIC**:

**NAICS**: 213112/Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations

----

**Inspection Type**: Fat/Cat

**Scope**: Complete

**Advanced Notice**: N

**Ownership**: Private

**Safety/Health**: Safety

**Close Conference**: 05/25/2018

**Emphasis**:

**Case Closed**: 02/11/2019

----

**Case Status: CLOSED**

#### **Investigation Summary**

**Investigation Nr**

**Event**

At approximately 10:00 a.m. or 10:05 a.m. on May 25, 2018, three employees were working at an oil and gas site. Three tanks were being decommissioned. They contained sludge that resulted from a mixture of oil remnant and gas condensate. The tanks were moved from the site to the bottom of a hill. There, a worker from a separate company cut open the tanks with an oxygen acetylene torch so that they could be cleaned. The third tank contained a leak along the bottom seam. Once it was at the bottom of the hill, the three employees, along with a second worker from the separate company, were working to contain the sludge that was escaping. Nearby, the worker with the torch was on the opposite side of the tank. He began to heat the tank with the torch. Flammable material, either liquid or vapor escaping from the leaking seam, ignited. An explosion occurred inside the tank. All three employees sustained thermal burns. Two of the employees sustained relatively minor burns. One employee sustained severe burns. He was flown to the hospital, where died on June 12, 2018.

**Keywords:**acetylene torch, explosion, fire, flammable liquid, flammable vapors, gas, leak, oil tank, storage tank, tank
Back to Top

                    -  OSHA 
                    -  Standards 
                    -  Enforcement 
                    -  Topics 
                    -  Media Center 
                    -  Contact Us 

U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health Administration200 Constitution Ave NW                                                                                    Washington, DC 20210                                          **1-800-321-OSHA1-800-321-6742www.osha.gov

Federal Government
                              - White House
                              - Benefits.gov
                              - Coronavirus Resources
                              - Disaster Recovery Assistance
                              - DisasterAssistance.gov
                              - USA.gov
                              - Notification of EEO Violations
                              - No Fear Act Data
                              - U.S. Office of Special Counsel

Occupational Safety & Health
                              - Frequently Asked Questions
                              - A - Z Index
                              - Freedom of Information Act - OSHA
                              - Read the OSHA Newsletter
                              - Subscribe to the OSHA Newsletter
                              - OSHA Publications
                              - Office of Inspector General

About The Site
                              - Freedom of Information Act
                              - Disclaimers
                              - Plug-Ins Used on DOL.gov
                              - Accessibility Statement

Connect With DOL

FacebookTwitterInstagramYoutubeLinkedIn

Site MapImportant Website NoticesPrivacy & Security Statement

### **Thank You for Visiting Our Website**

#### You are exiting the Department of Labor's Web server.

The Department of Labor does not endorse, takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over the linked organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the destination server. The Department of Labor also cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked Web sites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked Web site. Thank you for visiting our site. Please click the button below to continue.

Close