NTSB Safety Recommendation P-00-025

NTSB safety recommendation P-00-025.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT: REVISE YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN AND PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO REPORTED GAS LEAKS, PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MULTIPLE LEAKS AND TO THE UNDERGROUND MIGRATION OF GAS INTO NEARBY BUILDINGS FROM DAMAGED PIPELINES. IN ADDITION, TRAIN APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL IN THE NEW PROCEDURES, AND ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND EXISTING PROCEDURES TO SECURE THE AREA AND PROTECT PEOPLE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 2000-12-15

Adopted Date: 2000-12-07

Overall Date Closed: 2002-09-03

Synopsis: ON 1/22/99, WHILE DIGGING A TRENCH BEHIND A BUILDING AT 406 ALABAMA AVENUE, A BACKHOE OPERATOR DAMAGED A 3/4-INCH STEEL NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINE AND A 1-INCH WATER SERVICE LINE, BOTH OF WHICH WERE UNDERGROUND. THIS RESULTED IN TWO LEAKS IN THE NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINE, WHICH WAS OPERATED AT 35 PSIG. ONE LEAK OCCURRED WHERE THE BACKHOE BUCKET HAD CONTACTED AND PULLED THE NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINE. THE OTHER WAS A PHYSICAL SEPARATION OF THE GAS SERVICE LINE AT AN UNDERGROUND JOINT NEAR THE METER, WHICH WAS CLOSE TO THE BUILDING. GAS MIGRATED INTO THE BUILDING AT 406 ALABAMA AVENUE, WHERE IT IGNITED ABOUT 10:02 A.M. AN EXPLOSION FOLLOWED, DESTROYING THREE BUILDINGS: 404, 406, AND 408 ALABAMA AVENUE. OTHER BUILDINGS WITHIN A TWO-BLOCK AREA OF THE EXPLOSION WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED. THREE FATALITIES, FIVE SERIOUS INJURIES, AND ONE MINOR INJURY RESULTED FROM THIS ACCIDENT. THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD DETERMINED THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF R&B CONSTRUCTION (R&B) TO ESTABLISH AND FOLLOW SAFE PROCEDURES FOR EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO A 3/4-INCH GAS SERVICE LINE, AND THE FAILURE OF THE UTILITIES BOARD TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE SUBSEQUENT NATURAL GAS LEAK.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of R&B Construction (R&B) to establish and follow safe procedures for excavation activities, resulting in damage to a 3/4-inch gas service line, and the failure of the Utilities Board of the City of Bridgeport (Utilities Board) to provide appropriate emergency response to the subsequent natural gas leak.

Ntsbnumber: DCA99MP004

Report Number: PAB-00-01

Addressee Name: State of Alabama, City of Bridgeport, Utilities Board

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-09-03

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2002-05-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On April 10, 2001, in consideration of information provided in the Utilities Board's March 12, 2001, letter, Safety Recommendation P-00-25 was classified "Open--Acceptable Response." The Safety Board understood that the Utilities Board was working closely with the Alabama Public Service Commission, Office of Pipeline Safety, to revise the Utilities Board's emergency procedures for responding to reported gas leaks, with particular attention being paid to the possibility of multiple leaks and the migration of gas into buildings. Further, the Safety Board understood that the City of Bridgeport would train personnel in the new procedures and ensure that they understood existing procedures. We were awaiting a further response from the City of Bridgeport that the proposed actions had been completed. The Safety Board is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the traveling 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 receiving an update from you on whether the actions outlined in your initial response have been completed.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2002-09-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Utilities Board of the City of Bridgeport reports that it has revised its emergency procedures for responding to reported gas leaks, with particular attention paid to the possibility of multiple leaks and to migration of gas into buildings. In addition, Utilities Board employees have been trained both in the classroom and in the field to recognize the possibility of multiple leaks and the migration of gas into nearby structures. The Utilities Board further reports that the Alabama Public Service Commission, Division of Pipeline Safety, issued a memorandum instructing all gas systems in Alabama to amend their emergency procedures. In addition, the commission, in conjunction with the Alabama Natural Gas Association and the University of Alabama, has established the Operator Qualification Training Program that the Utilities Board follows. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-00-25 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2001-04-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD IS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ALABAMA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY, TO REVISE ITS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO REPORTED GAS LEAKS, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION PAID TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MULTIPLE LEAKS AND TO MIGRATION OF GAS INTO BUILDINGS. THE SAFETY BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT WILL EMPHASIZE TRAINING PERSONNEL IN THE NEW PROCEDURES, AND WILL ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND EXISTING PROCEDURES. ACCORDINGLY, P-00-25 IS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE," PENDING A FURTHER RESPONSE FROM THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT THAT ACTION ON THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE A COPY OF THE REVISED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2002-05-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 07/25/2002 11:02:49 AM MC# 2020718 Bridgeport Utilities has amended our Emergency Procedures to address your recommendation P-00-25. We have trained our personnel both in the classroom and in the field to recognize the possibility of multiple leaks and the migration of gas into nearby structures. The Alabama Public Service Commission, Division of Pipeline Safety issued a memorandum instructing all gas systems in Alabama to amend their Emergency Procedures as stated above. The Alabama Public Service Commission in conjunction with the Alabama Natural Gas Association and the University have established the Operator Qualification Training Program. I have enclosed a copy of the OQT brochure. Our employees have completed 67 of the training modules and are scheduled to complete 14 more the week of July 22, 2002. If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to call me at 256-495-2471.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2001-03-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 03/19/2001 3:04:09 PM MC# 2010236 THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ALABAMA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY, TO REVISE OUR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO REPORTED GAS LEAKS. WE ARE REVISING AND AMENDING OUR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MULTIPLE LEAKS AND TO MIGRATION OF GAS INTO BUILDINGS. WE WILL EMPHASIZE TRAINING PERSONNEL IN THE NEW PROCEDURES, AND WILL ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND EXISTING PROCEDURES. IF I CAN BE OF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL ME.