P-76-027 - NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-027 | Regulus

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-027.

INITIATE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CONDUCT PERIODIC TRAINING PROGRAMS, USING THIS ACCIDENT AS AN ILLUSTRATION, TO IMPRESS UPON ITS PERSONNEL THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING PRECISELY THE WRITTEN PROCEDURES COVERING THESE SITUATIONS. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-06-23

Adopted Date: 1976-06-04

Overall Date Closed: 1977-07-29

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 7, 1976, EMPLOYEES AT THE MICHIGAN-WISCONSIN PIPE LINE COMPANY'S CEDARDALE, OKLAHOMA, COMPRESSOR STATION WERE DIRECTED TO OPEN A VALVE ON A SHUT-IN 12-INCH GAS-GATHERING PIPELINE IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE THE FLOW INTO THE MAIN LINE. NATURAL GAS AND NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS AT 700-PSIG PRESSURE ROARED THROUGH THE VALVE, OUT THROUGH THE END OF AN OPEN 12-INCH PIPE, AND INTO A DITCH, WHERE SEVEN MEN WERE WORKING NEAR AN OPEN FLAME HEATER. THE NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS SATURATED THEIR CLOTHING AND THE HEATER SET THEM ON FIRE. FIVE MEN WERE KILLED AND TWO MEN WERE BURNED SERIOUSLY AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT.

Keywords: Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA76FP012

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: ANR Pipeline (formerly Michigan-Wisconsin Pipeline Company)

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1977-07-29

Addressee Acronym: ANR

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1976-08-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LTR. FROM MICHIGAN WISCONSIN PIPE LINE COMPANY: FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, INSTRUCTIONS WERE ISSUED TO FIELD SUPERVISION AGAIN STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURE REVIEW AT THE SEMI-ANNUAL TRAINING MEETINGS EACH YEAR. SINCE THE ACCIDENT, FIELD LOCATIONS HAVE CONDUCTED NUMEROUS MEETINGS ON PROCEDURAL MATTERS EMPHASIZING THE CONCERN DESCRIBED IN RECOMMENDATION P-76-28. OUR PROCEDURES REQUIRE ALL PERSONNEL AT EACH FIELD LOCATION TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF TRAINING TWICE A YEAR. THESE TRAINING MEETINGS ARE IN ADDITION TO THE MONTHLY SAFETY MEETINGS CONDUCTED AT EACH LOCATION.