NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-045

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-045.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT: THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR PRECONSTRUCTION MEETINGS, WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE METHODS OF PREVENTING DAMAGE TO UNDERGROUND UTILITIES TO BE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION WORK. SUCH PRECONSTRUCTION MEETINGS SHOULD BE ATTENDED BY ALL OPERATORS WHOSE FACILITIES ARE INVOLVED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1972-11-22

Adopted Date: 1972-11-22

Overall Date Closed: 1978-11-21

Synopsis: On March 24, 1972, in the Annandale section of Fairfax County, VA, a contractor's backhoe snagged a 2-inch steel gas main, and pulled the main out of a compression coupling 22 feet away. Gas company personnel arrived on the scene about 40 minutes later and started to search for the break. The gas was not shut off and the nearby houses were not checked for the presence of gas. A house, 240 feet away from the point at which the line was snagged, exploded. Two other houses exploded and burned. As a result of the accident, three persons died and one was injured; two houses were destroyed and a third was badly damaged; and $153,000 worth of property was damaged.

Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR002

Report Number: PAR-72-04

Addressee Name: American Public Works Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1978-11-21

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1973-02-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM APWA: YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS MOST TIMELY. YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE WILL DO SO. 11/29/77 - APWA LETTER IN RESPONSE TO NTSB 11/9/77 LETTER REQUESTING DOCUMENTATION OF ACTION PURSUED BY APWA ON THIS RECOMMENDATION: RESPONSE FROM APWA TRANSMITTED COPIES OF "HOW TO FORM UTILITY LOCATION AND COORDINATION COMMITTEES", BROCHURE DESCRIBING ULCC COUNCIL AND, LISTING OF ALL "ONE-CALL" SYSTEMS. IT APPEARS THAT THE ONE-CALL NETWORK WILL BE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTION OF CONSTRUCTION DAMAGE TO UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1978-12-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence