NTSB Safety Recommendation P-00-007

NTSB safety recommendation P-00-007.

TO THE POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS 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: 2002-09-26

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: Power and Communications Contractors Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-09-26

Addressee Acronym: PCCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-08-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 08/22/2002 4:49:09 PM MC# 2020782 Received fax from Mr. Mike Ancell of the PCCA providing copy of a May 2001 6-page article responsive to the Board's recommendations.

Addressee Acronym: PCCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-09-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Mr. Ancell provided a copy of a 6-page article from the PCCA's newsletter of May 2001. Because this article satisfied both recommendations, Safety Recommendations P-00-7 and -8 are classified CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION. We appreciate Mr. Ancell's prompt response to our inquiry.

Addressee Acronym: PCCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-04-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NMC #100701: To date the Safety Board has not been notified of any action taken to implement Safety Recommendations P-00-7 and -8, and the Board would appreciate learning of any actions taken or planned to comply with these recommendations. Please address your response to Ms. Carol J. Carmody, Acting Chairman, and reference the above recommendations in your letter. A copy of the recommendation letter is enclosed.