NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-019

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-019.

INSTRUCT ITS EMPLOYEES TO ASCERTAIN BY ALL POSSIBLE MEANS THE LOCATIONS OF UNDERGROUND FACILITIES BEFORE EXCAVATING AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-07-06

Adopted Date: 1978-05-18

Overall Date Closed: 1983-01-27

Synopsis: ON DECEMBER 1, 1977, A 12-INCH, CAST-IRON, HIGH-PRESSURE GAS MAIN OWNED BY THE ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY WAS RUPTURED BY AN 8-INCH STEEL I-BEAM PILE, WHICH WAS DRIVEN THROUGH THE PIPE AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. WHITHIN MINUTES, NATURAL GAS AT 10-PSIG PRESSURE MIGRATED THROUGH THE GROUND, ENTERED SEWER LINES AND ELECTRIC CONDUIT SYSTEMS, AND SPREAD INTO NEARBY BUILDINGS. THE GAS DID NOT IGNITE, BUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM NEARBY OFFICE BUILDINGS.

Ntsbnumber: DCA78MP003

Report Number: PAR-78-03

Addressee Name: George Hyman Construction Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-01-27

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-11-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: GEORGE HYMAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTR: THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU OFFER ON PAGE 15 ARE IN EFFECT AT THE PRESENT TIME. ADDITIONALLY, WE SEND AN EXPERIENCED ENGINEER FROM OUR BETHESDA OFFICE TO CONTACT LOCAL OR OUT OF TOWN UTILITY OFFICES IN ORDER TO LOCATE ALL UTILITIES. WE THEN GENERATE DRAWINGS OF THE UTILITIES AND SEND THEM TO ALL INTERESTED UTILITY COMPANIES FOR VERIFICATION. LASTLY, WHEN CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ARE WITHIN THREE FEET OF THE UTILITY, WE WILL HAND EXCAVATE TO IDENTIFY THEIR LOCATION IN AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE AREAS ON EACH SIDE OF THE PROJECT.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-01-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence