NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-053

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-053.

DEVELOP A METHOD OF RECEIVING EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALLS IN ORDER TO ASSURE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES. THE METHOD SHOULD INCLUDE LOGGING OF ALL EMERGENCY CALLS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-09-15

Adopted Date: 1976-07-07

Overall Date Closed: 1980-08-12

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 10, 1976, GAS WHICH WAS LEAKING INTO THE PATHFINDER HOTEL, IN FREMONT, NEBRASKA, IGNITED. THE GAS WAS LEAKING FROM A 2-INCH PLASTIC PIPE WHICH HAD PULLED OUT OF ITS COMPRESSION COUPLING; THE GAS SEEPED INTO THE HOTEL BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN CAPPED ABOVE BY FROZEN EARTH AND A CONCRETE ROAD SURFACE. THE HOTEL EXPLODED AND FIRE ENSUED; THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED THE HOTEL, DAMAGED NEARBY BUILDINGS, AND BROKE WINDOWS WITHIN A ONE-BLOCK RADIUS. THIRTY-NINE PERSONS WERE INJURED AND 20 PERSONS WERE KILLED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA76MP013

Report Number: PAR-76-06

Addressee Name: Nebraska Natural Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1980-08-12

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-05-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NEBRASKA NATURAL GAS COMPANY LTR: WE PRESENTLY FOLLOW A POLICY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED WITHIN A FEW DAYS FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT OF CONNECTING PLASTIC DISTRIBUTION MAINS AND SERVICES TO STEEL IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER. WE FUSE A TRANSITION (PLASTIC TO STEEL) FITTING TO THE PLASTIC PIPE. WE THEN WELD THE STEEL TO STEEL OR CONNECT THE STEEL TO STEEL WITH A COMPRESSION COUPLING. IF A COMPRESSION COUPLING IS USED, WE, IN ALL APPLICATIONS, SPOT WELD, ELECTRICALLY, A 3/4" STEEL STRAP FROM THE EXISTING STEEL MAIN TO THE STEEL PORTION OF THE TRANSITION FITTING, THUS PROVIDING A POSITIVE ANCHOR TO ELIMINATE EVERY LIKELIHOOD OF A JOINT SEPARATION. THE JOINT IS CATHODICALLY BONDED AND WRAPPED TO INSURE ITS LONGEVITY. WE HAVE CHECKED 99 PERCENT OF THE CONNECTIONS IN OUR SYSTEM COMPANY-WIDE ON PIPE SIZES ABOVE 1" TO INSURE THAT NO FURTHER PULLOUTS OCCUR. 6/19/80 - NEBRASKA NATURAL GAS COMPANY LTR: THE COMPANY NOW EMPLOYS THE SERVICES OF A 24 HOUR TELEPHONE ANSWERING SERVICE LOCATED IN FREMONT AT 501 1ST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING TO HANDLE ALL CALLS THAT COME TO THE COMPANY AFTER HOURS. THE ANSWERING SERVICE HAS A LIST OF OUR 15 EMPLOYEES AT ALL TIMES. AS THE SERVICE RECEIVES AND LOGS ALL CALLS, IT IS INSTRUCTED TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SERVICEMAN AT THE TOP OF THE LIST WHO IS SPECIFICALLY ON CALL A WEEK AT A TIME. IN THE EVENT THAT MAN IS NOT AT THE NUMBER, THE SERVICE CALLS THE NEXT MAN ON THE LIST UNTIL A MAN IS CONTACTED. THE SERVICEMEN HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN THE USE OF ALL LEAK DETECTION EQUIPMENT AND CARRY A DEVICE IN THE VEHICLE. NO CHARGE IS MADE FOR LEAK INVESTIGATION ON A 24 HOUR VEHICLE. ALL OTHER TOWNS (ALL MUCH SMALLER THAN FREMONT) SERVED HAVE LISTED IN TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES THE NAMES OF SUPERVISORY AND SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT MAY BE REACHED FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES. THE ABOVE MENTIONED RED BOOKLET IS AVAILABLE TO ALL FIRE, AND RESCUE UNITS, AND THE ANSWERING SERVICE TO PRODUCE IMMEDIATE CONTACT.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-08-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence