Another out-of-state worked killed working at a fracking gas well site in PA.

[Divernan]

When a person dies on the job, trying to make a living for himself and/or his family, it is always a tragedy. One of my grandfathers was a coal miner who helped unionize that occupation. I know he risked his life every day he went down into a mine. This kid was only 20 years old. His name was Kenny Duncan. He was electrocuted, apparently by a fuel pump.

There are a lot of questions about his death - and Governor Corbett will doubtless do his bureaucratic best to protect the industry from any charges of negligence or other wrong-doing.

How long had he been working for his employer? How much training or education did he have for the job he was performing? How much experience did he have at the job he was performing? Does his employer even HAVE a formal training program? How much supervision was he supposed to have while working? Was there ACTUAL supervision that day?

Was he working by himself at the site? Did he die immediately? Did he die alone? Might he have survived if he had gotten immediate assistance? HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE AT 5:05 AM., which indicates his body was not discovered until what, 3 a.m.?

Did this company have him working a shift in the dark? Highly unlikely. What hours was his work shift immediately before his death? Who discovered his body? His employer? A property owner? Why did it take so long to find him? When his employer sends workers out into the field, apparently alone, don't they keep in regular communication? The electricians and plumbers who come to my house always call into their main office when they finish and state where they'll be headed next. If sending workers to remote parts of Pennsylvania's woods and forests, that seems a minimal safety requirement for workers' protections. Even if an employer doesn't give a damn about their employees' safety, you'd think they'd keep close track of their trucks and equipment.

At age 20, it is highly unlikely he was a licensed electrician. And in Pennsylvania there are requirements for electricians to be licensed when working in the building trades - it may vary from county to county re maintenance at businesses. The bottom line is what was this young man doing with the fuel pump? Then, the pump itself, and its maintenance/repair history should be scrutinized by an independent expert investigator - not the employer! Have there been other problems with this particular piece of equipment, or with other identical pumps used by his employer at other gas wells? Has the company been going on the cheap re purchase, maintenance and repair of such pumps? Are there other pumps of different design which are safer to operate but more expensive to purchase and maintain?

As to the employer, why is it bringing in young workers from out of state, after Corbett and his cronies trumpet about the jobs for Pennsylvanians which will be brought by the Fracking companies? If this young man was a member of a union - HIGHLY DOUBTFUL! - I would have confidence there would be a thorough investigation into the material circumstances of this death. I have no confidence in Corbett's commitment to industrial safety. I'm sending my list of questions to the Post-Gazette and asking them to find the answers.

Rest in Peace young man. My deepest sympathies to your family.

Man dies at gas well site in Greene County
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A 20-year-old man died early Friday at a natural gas well site in Franklin, Greene County.

The Greene County coroner's office said the victim, Kenny E. Duncan of Amma, W.Va., may have been electrocuted by a fuel pump. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:05 a.m.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11204/1162405-55.stm#ixzz1SvdNDIlj
(I'm posting this in Latest Breaking News also, since fracking is going on in so many other parts of the country.)

[Divernan]

1. Update: Well operator had no ID/contact info posted at well site.

Update: Fracking well owner had no ID on the pump/well site


I found this report which says OSHA is investigating (good!), but that "it was not immediately clear who owns and operates the well". That is outrageous. There have been explosions and fires at these wells, and pipes bursting and massive amounts of lethal fracking fluids spewed. Every site should have emergency contact information posted on fireproof signage - I mean, raised metal lettering on metal signs.

Further, every site should have to register with the respective county's emergency responders.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Roane_County_WVa_Man...
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Authorities say a man from Roane County, W.Va., died early Friday morning at a gas drilling site in western Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State Police say co-workers and emergency medical personnel unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate 20-year-old Kerry Edward Duncan of Amma, W. Va., who was discovered unresponsive at the drilling site in Franklin Township, Greene

The Washington Observer-Reporter reports that the county coroner says Duncan may have been electrocuted by a fuel pump at the site. It was not immediately clear who owns and operates the well.

Police say the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating and an autopsy is being conducted. The police report gave no indication of the circumstances surrounding the death.

[Divernan]

2. I was contacted by the Post-Gazette; they're following up on my questions.

[mrmpa]

3. Good, because if you remember the Avella explosion and fire in

August, the 3 injured were from Texas and West Virginia. Every time Corbett pipes the line, that this industry will employ Pennsylvanians, I know he's lying. These companies want to avoid unionization. They know damn well that if they begin to employ Pennsylvanians there's a good chance that they will unionize.