# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-005

**Citation:** P-85-005  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1985-04-19  
**Published:** 1985-04-19

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY: REQUIRE THAT MAGNETS ON TEMPORARY BONDING CABLES INSTALLED TO MAINTAIN ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY DURING PIPE CUTTING OPERATIONS BE CHECKED FREQUENTLY FOR PROPER POSITIONING AND CHECKED IMMEDIATELY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN MOVEMENT OF THE PIPE.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-005.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY: REQUIRE THAT MAGNETS ON TEMPORARY BONDING CABLES INSTALLED TO MAINTAIN ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY DURING PIPE CUTTING OPERATIONS BE CHECKED FREQUENTLY FOR PROPER POSITIONING AND CHECKED IMMEDIATELY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN MOVEMENT OF THE PIPE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-04-19

Adopted Date: 1985-03-08

Overall Date Closed: 1985-08-19

Synopsis: ON JUNE 19, 1984, SIX EMPLOYEES OF A CONTRACTOR WORKING FOR WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY (WGL) IN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, WERE USING MECHANICAL SAWS TO CUT A SECTION OF 22-INCH DIAMETER, COATED AND CATHODICALLY PROTECTED, STEEL PIPELINE WHEN RESIDUAL GAS AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE IN THE ISOLATED SECTION OF THE PIPELINE WAS IGNITED. A FLASHFIRE ENSUED, AND FOUR CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE OPERATING THE SAWS AND A WGL SUPERINTENDENT WERE BURNED.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA84FP021

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Washington Gas

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1985-08-19

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-05-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WGLC LTR: A SPECIAL NOTE HAS BEEN INCLUDED CONCERNING THE NEED TO MONITOR THE BONDING CABLES DURING CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS TO ASSURE THEY ARE NOT MOVED.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-08-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-85-005>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `85a5920497be60680e361c71a3b3c819da8f2a468cea74af0f9f95ed219ee875`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T11:48:40.329Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-85-005`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-85-005",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA84FP021",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1985-08-19",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "None",
  "reportUrl": null,
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P85_4_5.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Washington Gas",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CAA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1985-08-19",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1985-05-07",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "WGLC LTR:  A SPECIAL NOTE HAS BEEN INCLUDED CONCERNING THE NEED TO MONITOR THE BONDING CABLES DURING CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS TO ASSURE THEY ARE NOT MOVED."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1985-08-19",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```