PANHANDLE EASTERN PIPELINE CO

Incident Narrative

ON MARCH 26, 2020, EMPLOYEE WAS RECEIVING A CLEANING PIG ON THE TEN-INCH EAST LINE AT BORCHERS STATION WHEN THE PIG BECAME LODGED IN THE RECEIVER. THE DOOR TO THE RECEIVER WAS OPENED, AND EMPLOYEE HAD POSITIONED HIMSELF IN FRONT OF THE PIG RECEIVER IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISLODGE THE STUCK PIG. SUDDENLY, THE PIG BECAME DISLODGED AND DISCHARGED OUT OF THE BARREL, STRIKING EMPLOYEE. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE CALLED 911 AND ASSISTED INJURED EMPLOYEE UNTIL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ARRIVED. HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED AND ASSISTED WITH FIRST AID UNTIL THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED. EMPLOYEE WAS TRANSPORTED TO MEADE COUNTY HOSPITAL WHERE THE EMPLOYEE PASSED AWAY. PLEASE REFER TO PART G (APPARENT CAUSE). AS IT APPLIES TO PART K (CONTRIBUTING FACTORS), SOP I.13 PIGGING AND PIG TRAP OPERATION REQUIRES A SITE SPECIFIC PIGGING PROCEDURE. HOWEVER, AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, A SITE SPECIFIC PIGGING PROCEDURE WAS NOT LOCATED. IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE PRESENCE OF A SITE SPECIFIC PIGGING PROCEDURE AT BORCHERS STATION WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS INCIDENT. IN TERMS OF PROCESS IMPROVEMENT, WE HAVE CREATED A SITE SPECIFIC PIGGING PLAN FOR BORCHERS EAST 10"" TRAP. A SAFETY ALERT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED COMPANY-WIDE IN ORDER TO REINFORCE OUR CURRENT PIGGING PROCEDURES AND STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER SAFETY PROTOCOLS WHEN ENGAGING IN PIGGING ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE WORKED WITH LOCAL FIELD PERSONNEL TO REINFORCE OUR PIGGING PROCEDURES. ALSO, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A TEAM TO REVIEW AND ASSESS CURRENT PIGGING PROCEDURES.