NTSB Safety Recommendation P-00-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-00-006.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATIONAL UTILITY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION: ADVISE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO REVIEW AND REVISE THEIR ANCHOR INSTALLATION PROCEDURES AS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT SAFETY MARGINS AROUND BURIED UTILITIES ARE ABSOLUTELY OBSERVED NOT ONLY ABOVE GROUND BUT THROUGHOUT THE INSTALLATION PROCESS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 2000-07-18

Adopted Date: 2000-07-11

Overall Date Closed: 2007-07-20

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 - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2007-07-20

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 The issues that surround Safety Recommendation P-00-6 do not relate to the high majority of NUCA's member companies. For the most part, NUCA's member companies do not engage in installation and maintenance work for power companies. NUCA companies engage mostly in infrastructure work that builds and repairs water, sewer, gas, and telecommunications systems. Only a very small percentage of our companies install power or telephone poles and therefore do not use anchors. However, NUCA's Government Relations Committee will look into the issue, and we will notify NTSB about any new activities, if any are initiated. Therefore, we request that NTSB classify Safety Recommendation P-00-6 as "Open, Acceptable Response."

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 reports that the recommendation is not relevant to most of its member companies, as much of its membership engages in infrastructure work that builds and repairs water, sewer, gas, and telecommunications systems and only a very small percentage of NUCA's companies install power or telephone poles. However, NUCA's government relations committee will look into the issue, and will notify the Safety Board about any new activities that may be initiated. Pending receipt of further information from NUCA regarding the committee's findings, Safety Recommendation P-00-6 is classified "Open--Acceptable Response."

Addressee Acronym: NUCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2007-07-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NUCA’s March 14, 2002, letter to the Safety Board detailed efforts then-underway to address the recommendation, and Safety Recommendation P-00-6 was classified Open Acceptable Response, pending completion of these efforts. On February 21, 2006, the Safety Board requested information from NUCA on further action taken or planned to implement Safety Recommendation P-00-6, but to date, the Board has received no additional information. On at least two occasions, Safety Board staff has exchanged e-mails and telephone calls with your staff requesting information on the status of implementing this recommendation. Although your staff indicated that a response would be forthcoming, the Board has not received one. Accordingly, we have no other choice but to classify Safety Recommendation P-00-6 as Closed Unacceptable Action.

Addressee Acronym: NUCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2004-03-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On March 14, 2002, Mr. Jeff Weitzel, past President of NUCA reported that the recommendation is not relevant to most of its member companies, as much of its membership engages in infrastructure work that builds and repairs water, sewer, gas, and telecommunications systems and only a very small percentage of NUCA's companies install power or telephone poles. However, NUCA's government relations committee will look into the issue, and will notify the Safety Board about any new activities that may be initiated. On May 28, 2002, pending receipt of further information from NUCA regarding the committee's findings, Safety Recommendation P-00-6 was classified "Open--Acceptable Response." To date, the Safety Board has not received any further information on the status of action to complete Safety Recommendation P-00-6. The Safety Board is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the public is provided the highest level of safety, and to identify creative solutions that might be shared with others. That is why we monitor the implementation of all our recommendations. We would appreciate an update from you regarding actions taken or planned to implement this recommendation. Please address your response to Ms. Ellen Engleman Conners, Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, and refer to the recommendation by number in your response. A copy of the recommendation letter and related correspondence is enclosed for your reference. Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact Michael Brown at 202-314-6174 if you have any questions.

Addressee Acronym: NUCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2006-02-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NUCA's March 14, 2002, letter to the Safety Board (enclosed) detailed effort then-underway to address the recommendation, and Safety Recommendation P-00-6 was classified "Open-Acceptable Response," pending completion of these efforts, on May 28, 2002. The Safety Board would appreciate receiving an update on the action that NUCA has taken to implement Safety Recommendation P-00-6. Copies of the letter issuing the recommendation and our May 28, 2002, letter are enclosed for your review.