Two workers were attempting to remove a pig from a line that was launched the previous day.

• Found pig was stuck in reducer section but cleared block valve so valve could be closed.
• After depressuring pig receiver and opening it to atmosphere, both workers believed energy had been removed. Pig had to be pulled into pig receiver through the reducer to remove so they fashioned a hook from some ss tubing.
• When worker hooked onto pig, the pig shot out and struck him in the nose resulting in major facial injuries.
• Apparently, part of the pig created a seal with a weld in the reducer section, which created a pressure trap behind the pig.