NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-007

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-007.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT: THE COLONIAL PIPELINE COMPANY COMPOSE A FORMAL, IN-DEPTH MANUAL OR PROCEDURE DEPICTING THE STEP-BY-STEP METHOD OF HANDLING PETROLEUM SPILLS, COMBATING FIRES, NOTIFYING THE VARIOUS AGENCIES, AND THE GUIDANCE OF CONTRACTORS' CREWS IN SAFE WORKING PROCEDURES. INCORPORATE IN THIS MANUAL THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE PETROLEUM SAFETY DATA SHEET, PSD 2200, JUNE 1964, AS A MINIMUM SO AS TO COMPLY FULLY WITH THE FEDERAL REGULATION 49 CFR 195.422. A LIST OF HOSPITALS WIH ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS, SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1971-12-08

Adopted Date: 1971-12-08

Overall Date Closed: 1975-12-30

Synopsis: ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1970, A PIPELINE LEAK OCCURRED IN THE COLONIAL PIPELINE SYSTEM NEAR JACKSONVILLE, MARYLAND. CONTRACTORS WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR 20 HOURS TO FIND THE LEAK, AND ON THE NEXT DAY AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED FOLLOWED BY A FIRE. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES, BUT FIVE WORKMEN WERE BURNED.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the leak was a flaw of undetermined origin in the pipe wall, crater-like in appearance, wide at the surface and narrowing down to a thin metal membrane, which failed after a period of constantly fluctuating pumping pressures. The probable cause of the explosion and fires was the ingestion of the gasoline vapor-rich atmosphere by a diesel engine which resulted in the speeding up and backfiring of the engine, igniting the atmosphere.

Ntsbnumber: DCA70MP003

Report Number: PAR-71-02

Addressee Name: Colonial Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1975-12-30

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1972-05-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM COLONIAL: COLONIAL IS PRESENTLY EXPANDING ITS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES MANUAL. THIS WILL INCLUDE ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS IN YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE HELD MEETINGS IN EACH ONE OF COLONIAL'S NINE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AS FOLLOWS: REVIEWED THE NTSB REPORT IN TOTAL AND CONSIDERED EACH RECOMMENDATION. CONDUCTED A CRITIQUE WITH FIELD PERSONNEL ON PROCEDURES FOLLOWED IN HANDLING ANY RECENT EMERGENCIES. DISCUSSED WAYS TO IMPROVE METHODS USED FOR VAPOR DETECTION.