NTSB Safety Recommendation P-77-009

NTSB safety recommendation P-77-009.

REEMPHASIZE TO ALL SUPERVISORY AND OPERATING PERSONNEL THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREFULLY FOLLOWING ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES FOR WORKING IN VAULTS AND MANHOLES. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1977-06-24

Adopted Date: 1977-06-10

Overall Date Closed: 1977-11-23

Synopsis: ON MARCH 26, 1977, THE BUFFALO POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED GAS ODORS IN A TELEPHONE COMPANY MANHOLE NEAR 1446 SOUTH PARK AVENUE. NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY CHECKED THE VAULT BELOW THE MANHOLE FOR GAS. HIS COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR (CGI) INDICATED A FULL-SCALE READING ON ITS SINGLE, LOWER-EXPLOSIVE LIMIT SCALE, HE RADIOED FOR ADDITIONAL HELP. A THREE-MAN, EMERGENCY REPAIR CREW ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND REMOVED THE MANHOLE COVER TO VENT THE GAS FROM THE VAULT. THE REPAIR CREW WAS COMPOSED OF SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL BECAUSE REGULAR GAS COMPANY EMPLOYEES WERE ON STRIKE. THE CREW FOREMAN WALKED DOWN THE STREET TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE GAS MAIN BY EXAMINING PAVING PATCHES OVER PREVIOUS REPAIRS, WHILE THE OTHER TWO MEN REMAINED AT THE MANHOLE. THE FOREMAN HEARD ONE OF THE MEN CALL FOR HELP. HE FOUND ONE MAN ON A LADDER IN THE MANHOLE HOLDING THE OTHER MAN, WHO WAS UNCONSCIOUS. THE MAN ON THE LADDER THEN LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND BOTH FELL BACK INTO THE MANHOLE. FIREMEN, WEARING OXYGEN MASKS, REMOVED THE BODIES FROM THE MANHOLE. THE REPAIRMEN HAD NOT USED THE RESPIRATORY DEVICES WHICH WERE ON THE GAS COMPANY TRUCK.

Ntsbnumber: DCA77FP020

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: National Fuel Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1977-11-23

Addressee Acronym: NFG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1977-08-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NATIONAL FUEL GAS DISTRIBUTION CORP. LTR: AS OF THIS DATE, ALL APPROPRIATE OPERATING PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN RE-TRAINED IN THE ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES FOR WORKING IN VAULTS AND MANHOLES.