Machine Injury & Accidents

Date	City	State	Employer	Body Part	Event
2021-10-05	Harrisville	Wv	Next LVL Energy	Face	Struck by object or equipment
An employee was plugging and abandoning a natural gas well when he was struck in the face by a 30-foot section of steel tubing. The employee sustained multiple facial fractures.
2021-08-02	Boise	Id	Intermountain Gas Company, Inc.	Heart	Multiple types of overexertion involving outside sources
An employee was repairing a natural gas line leak on an extreme heat day (which entailed using a hand shovel to dig two 19- to 20-inch holes in packed soil: one hole to expose the gas line to stop the flow of gas and one to make the repair). The employee had a heart attack and was hospitalized.
2021-07-26	Tyrone	Pa	Peoples Natural Gas	Multiple body parts	Explosion, n.e.c.
On 7/26/2021 at 1:08 p.m., an employee entered a customer's residence to investigate a natural gas odor. The house exploded and the employee sustained burns to their hands, arms, chest, and face that required hospitalization.
2021-07-18	Beaver	Wv	Patty's Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Explosion of nonpressurized vapors, gases, or liquids
There was a natural gas leak in the sewer line of a facility. An employee lit a cigarette, which ignited the natural gas and resulted in an explosion inside the store. The employee suffered burns and was hospitalized.
2021-06-18	Albany	Tx	A L Helmcamp, Inc.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by injured worker
An employee was carrying natural gas pipe fittings out of a trailer. One of the fittings fell and struck the employee's right thumb as the employee tried to catch it. The thumb was amputated.
2021-05-26	Orla	Tx	Devon Energy Corporation	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Fall on same level, n.e.c.
While conducting a hole in tubing test, a pressurized release of natural gas and debris knocked an employee off balance causing the employee to fall into the debris and gas. The employee sustained a right pinky finger dislocation and abrasions on their back.
2021-04-25	Pine Bluff	Ar	Calpine Corporation	Multiple body parts	Explosion of nonpressurized vapors, gases, or liquids
On April 25, 2021, at 8:56 AM, natural gas pressure increased at the fuel skids which activated one of the pressure safety valves. An employee was dispatched to shut off the gas supply remotely. Natural gas discharged from the PSV and accumulated in four adjacent enclosures that house operating equipment. The gas vapors ignited and an explosion occurred. The employee was burned on both arms and hands, their face, and lower torso. The employee was hospitalized.
2021-02-17	Chico	Tx	Targa Resources	Hip(s)	Fall on same level due to slipping
On February 17, 2021, an employee was completing rounds through a natural gas planet when he slipped and fell on an ice spot. He was hospitalized, having suffered a broken left hip.
2020-09-11	Castle Rock	Co	Deer Creek Electric	BODY SYSTEMS	Inhalation of harmful substance-single episode
An employee was doing electrical work inside a house under construction. An excavator broke a gas pipe behind the house, possibly exposing the employee to natural gas. The employee suffered shortness of breath and dizziness and was hospitalized.
2020-08-04	Chanute	Ks	River Rock Operating LLC	Head, neck, and trunk	Contact with hot objects or substances
An employee was conducting maintenance on a natural gas glycol dehydration unit when the housing unit ruptured and hot glycol fluid made contact with the employee, leading to hospitalization for third degree burns on top of the head, neck, and back.
2020-07-14	Elkhorn	Wisconsin	Hudapack Metal Treating, Inc.	Head and neck	Contact with hot objects or substances
An employee was inspecting the inside of an industrial heat treating furnace. A defective relay allowed natural gas to flow into an area of the furnace and the gas was ignited by the radiant tube heating system. The employee was directly in front of a fireball that came from the oven, and sustained second degree burns to the head, face, and neck.
2020-07-09	Nashville	Arkansas	Tyson Poultry, Inc.	Head and trunk	Vehicle or machinery fire
Two employees were doing monthly preventive maintenance/inspection on a natural gas boiler system. A fire ignited in the system; one employee was burned on the back and side of the head, and the other suffered second-degree burns on his face, arms, and hand.
2020-06-30	Nardin	Oklahoma	Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline Inc	Skull	Struck by swinging or slipping object, other than handheld, n.e.c.
An employee was actuating a valve handle at an open end pipe extension of a well tree to release gas from a natural gas storage well. The well tree rotated and the pipe extension struck the employee's head causing a skull fracture behind the right ear.
2020-05-30	Deer Park	Texas	The Lubrizol Corporation	Hip(s)	Other fall to lower level
While troubleshooting on a natural gas train platform, an employee went down the stairs and fell to the ground, suffering a hip fracture.
2020-03-03	Tampa	Florida	BERNHARD MCC, LLC	Nonclassifiable	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was tying in a newly installed, de-energized domestic water line by brazing a 3-inch copper coupling in a shallow excavated area with a gas brazing rod. A natural gas explosion burned the employee.
2020-02-25	Big Spring	Texas	JDub Energy Services, LLC	Multiple body parts	Explosion of nonpressurized vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was draining condensate from an air compressor when a catastrophic failure occurred on a check valve on a natural gas line. The natural gas began blowing toward the running compressor and the gas ignited causing an explosion. The employee was hospitalized for second and third degree burns to the face, hands, left leg, and left midsection.
2019-09-05	Clymer	Pennsylvania	Diversified Gas & Oil Corporation	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
While an employee was preparing a coupler for installation on a pipeline, residual natural gas flared and caught fire. The employee was hospitalized with burns to the face and arms.
2019-07-09	Houston	Texas	Centerpoint Energy Entex	BODY SYSTEMS	Exposure to environmental heat
An employee was hand-digging to access a natural gas line. He became ill and was hospitalized, suffering from heat stress/exhaustion.
2019-07-08	Zapata	Texas	Elite Compression Services, LLC	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was performing maintenance on a natural gas compressor. He was turning over an engine by barring over when his left pinky finger was caught between the bar and the guard for the bull wheel. Two centimeters of the tip were amputated.
2019-06-22	Dallas	Texas	Community Waste Disposal, L.P.	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was repairing a front load vehicle in the shop when a build up of compress natural gas (CNG) that was leaking from the regulator or the vehicle ignited and burned the employee's chest.
2019-06-18	Chickasha	Oklahoma	Global Pipeline, LLC	Upper and lower limb(s)	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was operating a trenching machine when it struck an old, unmarked natural gas pipeline. The machine caught fire before the operator could turn it off; he suffered burns to his right hand as he left the cab, as well as a broken right knee and left wrist as he jumped to the ground. He was hospitalized.
2019-06-06	Santa Fe	Texas	Dayton Lease & Pipeline Services, Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
Employees were using a tapping machine to perform a hot tap on a natural gas line. As the employees began a three-way bypass, a flash fire occurred. Two of the employees were hospitalized for burns.
2019-01-01	Waynesburg	Pennsylvania	Power Torque Services, LLC	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery
While working on a natural gas drilling rig, an employee sustained a partial amputation to their little finger.
2018-09-15	Bridgeport	West Virgini	Precision Pipeline, LLC	Abdomen, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway
At about 5:00 p.m. on September 15, 2018, an employee was driving a utility vehicle at a natural gas pipeline site when it flipped over. The employee suffered a potential stomach tear and was hospitalized.
2018-08-23	Smiley	Texas	Bullet Oilfield Solutions, Inc.	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was on the catwalk of a mixing plant at a completed well site. He was burned by a fire, centered on a forklift and a flowback tank that was releasing natural gas. He suffered second- and third-degree burns to his right hand and arm to the shoulder, his left hand, and his back on the right side. He also suffered second-degree burns to the right side of his face (excluding the eyes) and first-degree burns to his forehead. Personal protective equipment and flame-retardant pants were bei
2018-08-21	Mandaree	North Dakota	Montana-Dakota Services, Inc.	Shoulder(s), including clavicle(s), scapula(e)	Struck by discharged object or substance
An employee was attempting to depressurize a threaded natural gas line. He continued to disconnect the pipe and a significant pressure release occurred, dislocating his left shoulder and bruising his right thigh. He was hospitalized.
2018-05-09	Montgomery	Alabama	Rheem Manufacturing Company, Inc	BODY SYSTEMS	Inhalation of harmful substance-single episode
Two employees were running a test on a prototype tankless water heater that ran on natural gas when the unit started to overheat. The carbon monoxide alarm sounded and the employees evacuated the room, but one employee was exposed to the gas and required hospitalization.
2018-04-02	Wewoka	Oklahoma	MILLS WELL SERVICE, INC.	Head and trunk	Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire
An employee was operating a service rig when a natural gas explosion and fire occurred, burning the employee's face and neck.
2018-03-05	Midwest City	Oklahoma	Modern Companies, Inc.	Abdomen, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Fall through surface or existing opening 21 to 25 feet
An employee was installing natural gas lines above a drop ceiling when the platform he was standing on gave way. He fell through the ceiling to the concrete floor approximately 25 feet below, suffering internal organ damage.
2018-01-12	Alexander	North Dakota	Zavanna, LLC	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was troubleshooting the natural gas supply for a freshwater heater. The employee opened a valve on a scrubber that released gas and it ignited, burning the employee's legs, hands, and face.
2018-01-09	Wellston	Ohio	General Mills	BODY SYSTEMS	Inhalation of harmful substance-single episode
On January 9, 2018, an employee was working the pizza line at a facility that had a large heating unit running. The ignition for the burner unit control failed and shut off the ignition unit, but the natural gas remained on. Employees evacuated the work site and maintenance repaired the burner unit control switch. The employees then returned to work. The next day, the injured employee was hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
2018-01-08	Watford City	North Dakota	Hiland Partners Holdings LLC	Multiple body parts	Struck by object or equipment
An employee was blowing off pressure on a field natural gas compressor when a pipe about 3 feet long pulled out of the threads and hit the employee, causing blunt force trauma to the face, arm, and shoulder.
2017-10-09	Pingree Grove	Illinois	HENKELS & MC COY, INC.	Brain	Struck by dislodged flying object, particle
On October 9, 2017, at approximately 10:00 a.m., a traveling crew was working on a new natural gas pipeline installation. The crew was forcefully inserting a plunger (under mechanical pressure from an excavator) into the pipeline for standard pipe cleaning when its apparatus became disconnected from the excavator and flew out, striking the injured employee in the head/face. He lost consciousness and suffered a concussion, multiple contusions, multiple abrasions, and fractures to the nose and nas
2017-09-20	Dallas	Texas	Driver Pipeline Company, Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was performing pipeline tie-in activities when a natural gas product ignited, causing a flash fire that caused second degree burns to the employee.
2017-09-01	Topeka	Kansas	NPL Construction Company	Multiple face locations	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was using a portable grinder with a wire brush wheel to clean a metallic natural gas pipe in preparation for welding. The flow of natural gas had been stopped with a metallic stopper pin. As the employee was using the grinder, the stopper pin became dislodged from a seated position, resulting in a brief ignition of the natural gas. The employee suffered first and second degree burns to the right side of his face and nose.
2017-08-21	El Campo	Texas	El Campo Compressor Rental, Inc.	Hand(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery, n.e.c.
On 8/21/2017, an employee was checking a natural gas compressor at an oil and gas lease when his right hand was caught and severely lacerated between the fan blade and the frame of the compressor. His hand had to be medically amputated. The fan was running at the time of the incident.
2017-08-20	Windsor	Colorado	Certarus USA Ltd.	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee had been positioning a natural gas trailer and the trailer slipped off of the hitch. The employee then tried to clean out/adjust the trailer hitch on the semi and the hitch moved which pinched his left middle finger, amputating the fingertip.
2017-08-16	Benton	Louisiana	Empresa Entergy IV LLC	Back, including spine, spinal cord	Fire
Two employees were performing servicing work at a natural gas refrigeration plant when a fire erupted and seriously burned their backs.
2017-08-15	Arcadia	Wisconsin	Pilgrim's - GNP Business Unit	Hand(s)	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was switching a tank connection from natural gas to propane when the gas ignited, causing thermal burns to his left and right hands.
2017-02-16	Quinton	Oklahoma	NextEra Energy, Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Fire
An employee was burned and hospitalized after a fire occurred at a natural gas well.
2017-01-25	Rosenberg	Texas	Digco Utility Services	Upper and lower limb(s)	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
The injured employee was standing at the edge of an excavation when an excavator hit a natural gas line while digging resulting in a fire. The injured employee suffered first degree burns to the lower right arm and thigh.
2017-01-09	Birmingham	Alabama	Miller Pipeline	Ankle(s)	Fall on same level due to slipping
An employee was replacing a natural gas pipeline when he slipped on ice and fractured his left ankle.
2016-10-13	Big Lake	Texas	X-Chem, LLC	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Struck by discharged object or substance
An employee was attaching a connection to the wellhead for treatment when a stream of high pressured natural gas caused the following injuries to the employee: facial Injuries, right punctured lung, and a torn esophagus. The employee was hospitalized.
2016-10-11	Romeoville	Illinois	NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY	Nonclassifiable	Explosion
An employee was injured in a natural gas explosion.
2016-09-01	Little Rock	Arkansas	JESCO, INC.	Leg(s)	Other fall to lower level
An employee was connecting natural gas service to a ground-mounted HVAC unit and stepped backwards into a wash-out ditch, breaking a leg.
2016-07-26	Belfield	North Dakota	Bob's Oilfield Service, Inc.	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was cutting an 8-inch pipe used to carry natural gas when a flash fire occurred, burning the employee's face and hands.
2016-05-25	Watonga	Oklahoma	Testco, Inc.	Skull	Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire
An employee was plumbing in a separator on a natural gas line that had pressure in it. The line blew up and knocked the employee to the ground, spraying him with dirt and rocks. He fractured his skull and suffered cuts to his arms.
2016-04-17	Auburn	Alabama	Borbet Alabama, Inc.	Head and neck	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was heating a mold with a natural gas burner when the hose came loose and caught on fire, burning the employee's face and neck.
2016-04-14	New Orleans	Louisiana	UPS	Leg(s)	Fall on same level, n.e.c.
An employee was filling a natural gas powered vehicle. A noise startled the employee, who then fell backward and made contact with the lip of the fueling island, breaking his right leg in the process. He was hospitalized for surgery.
2016-04-06	Maryville	Illinois	Keller Construction, Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire
An employee was operating a soil stabilizer when the equipment struck a high-pressure natural gas pipeline. The pipeline burst into flames and exploded, causing burns to the employee.
2016-03-09	Ravencliff	West Virgini	EnerVest Operating Company	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
While restarting a compressor, an employee noticed the alternator belt was loose. The employee was tightening a bolt when an arc occurred, igniting natural gas vapors in the area and burning the employee's hands and face.
2016-02-15	Pearsall	Texas	Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC	Multiple body parts	Explosion
A third party truck driver was loading natural gas condensate into his tank truck when an explosion occurred and injured the driver. He was hospitalized for burns to both hands and his back.
2016-01-30	Port Lavaca	Texas	Bob White Energy Services	Nonclassifiable	Struck by discharged object or substance
An employee was attempting to pump water into a natural gas line. After he was given the "all clear" sign by the pipeline supervisor, he opened a water valve and was instantly struck and injured by pressurized water. The gas line was not de-energized at the time.
2015-10-21	Borger	Texas	Traditions Oil & Gas Services, LLC	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was purging the ambient air on the compressor displacing it with natural gas. The night before, an electrical storm had shorted the motor. While purging the line, a spark ignited the natural gas causing a flash fire. The employee received burns on his face and hands and was hospitalized.
2015-07-31	Ridgewood	New Jersey	PSE&G Services Corporation	BODY SYSTEMS	Exposure to environmental heat
An employee was overseeing a natural gas line repair contractor at the intersection of West Glen 7 North Monroe, Ridgewood, New Jersey. The employee experienced dizziness and light-headedness and was hospitalized for treatment of dehydration and low sodium.
2015-07-09	Cheektowaga	New York	Culinary Art's Specialties, Inc.	Multiple body parts	Explosion, n.e.c.
An employee went to perform maintenance on a commercial natural gas oven. He opened the outer access door to the oven and went inside. An explosion occurred, and the employee suffered burns on his arms, legs, and sides of his body.
2015-02-27	Brownsville	Pennsylvania	Brownsville Marine Products, LLC	Nonclassifiable	Ignition of clothing from controlled heat source
An employee was standing near a pot belly natural gas heater, and his clothing caught on fire. The employee was admitted to the hospital.
2015-01-17	San Antonio	Texas	Black Creek Well Services, L.P.	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
Employee was injured while performing a "cold cut" on a 6" metal pipe of a gathering system. Employee was burned on the face, both arms, and knees. Employee was using a striker from the welding equipment and possibly ignited natural gas.