# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-053

**Citation:** P-78-053  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-08-28  
**Published:** 1978-08-28

REQUIRE ITS EMPLOYEES TO USE VALVES OR OTHER MEANS TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR RECONNECTING ACTIVE GAS LINES. (URGENT)

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-053.

REQUIRE ITS EMPLOYEES TO USE VALVES OR OTHER MEANS TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR RECONNECTING ACTIVE GAS LINES. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-08-28

Adopted Date: 1978-09-09

Overall Date Closed: 1978-12-19

Synopsis: ON MARCH 29, 1978, THE OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS COMPANY (ONG) DISPATCHED A CREW TO SHUT OFF GAS SERVICE TO A SHOPPING CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY. THE CREW WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE A VALVE, SO THEY DISCONNECTED THE LINE ON THE LOW-PRESSURE SIDE OF THE REGULATOR AT A 2-INCH UNION AND PLUGGED THE LINE WITHOUT FIRST STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS. ON APRIL 24, 1978, ONG ASSIGNED A DIFFERENT CREW TO RESTORE GAS SERVICE TO THE SHOPPING CENTER. TWO EMPLOYEES WERE OVERCOME BY GAS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RECONNECT THE 2-INCH UNION WITHOUT FIRST STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS INSIDE THE VAULT. THREE OTHER ONG EMPLOYEES ENTERED THE VAULT THROUGH THE 19-INCH OPENING TO RESCUE THE MEN AND WERE ALSO OVERCOME; THE CREW DID NOT HAVE A RESPIRATOR AT THE JOB SITE. ONE MAN WAS PULLED OUT OF THE VAULT BY OTHER ONG WORKERS AND WAS REVIVED AT THE SCENE; HOWEVER, THE OTHER FOUR MEN DIED OF ASPHYXIATION.

Ntsbnumber: FTW78FP008

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Oklahoma Natural Gas Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1978-12-19

Addressee Acronym: Oneok

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-09-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS COMPANY LTR: OUR MODIFIED POLICY REQUIRES OUR EMPLOYEES TO USE A VALVE OR OTHER MEANS TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR RECONNECTING ACTIVE GAS LINES IN CONFINED SPACES.

Addressee Acronym: Oneok

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-12-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-053>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `d4791614c103b2a01229b1fdd1ab9989ab88268aed600195a04b74166b0ae437`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T23:25:32.930Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-053`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-053",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "FTW78FP008",
  "priority": "CLASS I",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1978-12-19",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2017-09-06",
  "reportNumber": "None",
  "reportUrl": null,
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P78_53_55.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Oklahoma Natural Gas Corporation",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1978-12-19",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "Oneok",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1978-09-06",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS COMPANY LTR: OUR MODIFIED POLICY REQUIRES OUR EMPLOYEES TO USE A VALVE OR OTHER MEANS TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR RECONNECTING ACTIVE GAS LINES IN CONFINED SPACES."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "Oneok",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1978-12-19",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```