Exterran / Henry Production Vehicle Incident 12/22/08 Presented on 2/6/09 by: Randy Lydic – Henry Production (505) Bryan Richardson – Exterran (505)
Weather on 12/22/08 Snow and ice conditions began early from around the Colorado border North. Severe weather began moving South into New Mexico around mid day… causing risky road and worker conditions.
Location Incident took place on CR On the hill from upper pump to lower pump canyon. (dirt road) Roads were snow packed and icy with heavy amounts of snow still falling.
Incident Timeline on 12/22/ – 2 HPI vehicles proceeded down hill without tire chains and spun out. The HPI drivers decided to put tire chains on vehicles before proceeding down hill any further – Exterran vehicle #1 proceeds down hill with front tires chained – sees HPI vehicles in road and is able to stop. Driver gets out to assist HPI drivers – Exterran vehicle #2 is headed towards the same hill, and is on the phone with his supervisor who told him to stop and install tire chains before going down the hill.
Incident Timeline on 12/22/ Exterran vehicle #2 begins his descent down the hill and disregards the supervisor instructions to put tire chains on. – Exterran #2 driver sees the vehicles blocking the road and attempts to stop. – Since tire chains were not installed, driver cannot stop and begins sliding towards the vehicles, picking up speed…. – Exterran #2 rear ends Exterran #1, pushing that vehicle into the HPI vehicles and drivers who are outside of their vehicles installing tire chains.
Injuries HPI employee #1 was squeezed between Exterran vehicle #2 that was rear ended and his HPI vehicle as he was outside putting on tire chains. – Received internal injuries and spent a few days in hospital HPI employee #2 was knocked to ground by the vehicles colliding and sustained minor injuries. – Seen and released the same night Exterran employee that was rear ended received a back and neck strain injury – Medical treatment still ongoing
Response Factors Air care was grounded due to weather Ambulance could not make it to site due to road conditions Personnel on site had to provide first aid care and transport most serious injured HPI person to the waiting ambulance. Time from incident to medical care was approx. 2.5 hours People on scene had to take response measures into their own hands.
Incident Points Being in a hurry (not putting on chains) can cause a serious incident and people pain/suffering. Equipment must be ready to use (tire chains) and fit to the vehicle. Journey Management must be evaluated… not just the quickest route. STOP WORK AUTHORITY must be stressed to employees in the event they need to make that call. Employees must be trained in first aid measures in the event the need ever arises in field.
What’s To Come? Exterran and HPI are in the early stages of making a video of this incident and how it impacted several lives. Video will be distributed in an upcoming Four Corners Safety Network meeting.
Questions?