NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-030

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-030.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE EQUITABLE GAS COMPANY: INCLUDE IN ITS TRAINING PROGRAMS A COURSE ON UNDERSTANDING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL GAS, ITS EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN BODY, AND THE CORRECT PROCEDURES TO BE USED IN ITS PRESENCE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1972-06-08

Adopted Date: 1972-05-25

Overall Date Closed: 1975-12-30

Synopsis: ON NOVEMBER 17, 1971, WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF REVAMPING A REGULATOR STATION, EMPLOYEES OF THE EQUITABLE GAS COMPANY WERE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE A VALVE ON THE LOW-PRESSURE SIDE OF A REGULATOR IN A VAULT WITHOUT FIRST STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS. TWO MEN WORKING IN THE VAULT WERE OVERCOME BY GAS LEAKING INTO THE VAULT. FOUR OTHERS ALSO WERE OVERCOME ATTEMPTING TO RESCUE THE FIRST TWO. ALL SIX MEN DIED OF ASPHYXIATION. THREE OTHER MEN ALSO WERE INJURED.

Probable Cause: Inhalation of natural gas released into a vault where two men were attempting to change a valve in the vault without first stopping the flow of gas.

Keywords: Hazmat

Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR004

Report Number: PAR-72-02

Addressee Name: Equitable Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1975-12-30

Addressee Acronym: EQT

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1972-12-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM EQUITABLE: INCLUDED AS PART OF THE BIWEEKLY SAFETY MEETINGS IN A PRESENTATION ON NATURAL GAS, ITS PROPERTIES, ITS CHARACTERISTICS, ITS PECULIARITIES AND ITS POTENTIAL EFFECT ON THE HUMAN BODY. CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURES HAVE ALSO BEEN DEVELOPED AND PRESENTED TO EMPLOYEES.

Addressee Acronym: EQT

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-06-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence