NTSB Safety Recommendation P-00-026

NTSB safety recommendation P-00-026.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT R&B CONSTRUCTION: IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE PROCEDURES FOR USING ONE-CALL BEFORE EXCAVATING AND FOR SAFELY EXCAVATING IN THE VICINITY OF UNDERGROUND UTILITY LINES. PROVIDE ADEQUATE INSTRUCTION TO EMPLOYEES ON THESE PROCEDURES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Issued Date: 2000-12-15

Adopted Date: 2000-12-07

Overall Date Closed: 2004-07-26

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 BULDING 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 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 RESULTING 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: R and B Construction

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Addressee Date Closed: 2004-07-26

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-05-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 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. The Board would appreciate learning what action has been taken or planned to be taken to implement the recommendation.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2004-07-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Notation item 7307A will serve as documentation for administratively classifying Safety Recommendation P-00-26 to R&B Construction "Closed-Unacceptable Action/No Response Received." The Board believes that a letter to R&B Construction advising of their revised status would have little meaning for the company and would serve no useful purpose; consequently, no letter will be sent.