NTSB Safety Recommendation P-00-005

NTSB safety recommendation P-00-005.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATIONAL UTILITY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION: INFORM YOUR MEMBERSHIP OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE 12/11/98, ACCIDENT IN ST. CLOUD, MN, TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF DAMAGE TO AN UNDERGROUND UTILITY AND THE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 OR OTHER APPROPRIATE LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE NUMBER WHEN A NATURAL GAS LEAK OR OTHER HAZARDOUS CONDITION OCCURS AND TO IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY UTILITY COMPANIES WHEN AN UNDERGROUND FACILITY HAS BEEN DAMAGED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 2000-07-18

Adopted Date: 2000-07-11

Overall Date Closed: 2002-05-28

Synopsis: ABOUT 10:50 A.M. ON 12/11/98, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL A UTILITY POLE SUPPORT ANCHOR IN A CITY SIDEWALK IN ST. CLOUD, MN, A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK INSTALLATION CREW FROM CABLE CONSTRUCTORS, INC., (CCI) STRUCK AND RUPTURED AN UNDERGROUND, 1-INCH-DIAMETER, HIGH-PRESSURE PLASTIC GAS SERVICE PIPELINE, THEREBY PRECIPITATING A NATURAL GAS LEAK. ABOUT 39 MINUTES LATER, WHILE UTILITY WORKERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL WERE TAKING PRELIMINARY PRECAUTIONS AND ASSESSING THE SITUATION, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED. AS A RESULT OF THE EXPLOSION, 4 PERSONS WERE FATALLY INJURED; 1 PERSON WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED; AND 10 PERSONS, INCLUDING 2 FIREFIGHTERS AND 1 POLICE OFFICER, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. SIX BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED. DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS ESTIMATED PROPERTY LOSSES AT $399,000.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was the lack of adequate procedures by CCI to prevent damage to nearby utilities when its anchor installation crews encountered unusual conditions such as striking an underground obstacle. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the delay by CCI in notifying the proper authorities.

Ntsbnumber: DCA99MP001

Report Number: PAR-00-01

Addressee Name: National Utility Contractors Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-05-28

Addressee Acronym: NUCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-03-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 03/29/2002 5:59:43 PM MC# 2020345 Regarding P-00-5, NUCA refers you to our response to Safety Recommendation P-96-20 (please see page 2). We fully support the revised CGA best practice regarding 9 11 -notification as addressed by CGA in response to NTSB's recent correspondence. Therefore, we respectfully request that NTSB classify Safety Recommendation P-00-5 as "Closed, Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: NUCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-04-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: To date there has never been a response from NUCA on the action taken or planned for the implementation of Safety Recommendation P-00-5 or -6.

Addressee Acronym: NUCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-05-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NUCA staff confirmed that NUCA has taken action to disseminate the circumstances of the St. Cloud, Minnesota, explosion to its membership, to make them aware of the dangers of damage to an underground utility, the need to immediately call the local emergency response number when a natural gas leak or other hazardous condition occurs, and the need to immediately notify utility companies when an underground facility has been damaged. Further, as stated above, NUCA supports the Common Ground Study, its conclusions, and its recommendations. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-00-5 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."