NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-053

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-053.

REQUIRE ITS EMPLOYEES TO USE VALVES OR OTHER MEANS TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR RECONNECTING ACTIVE GAS LINES. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-08-28

Adopted Date: 1978-09-09

Overall Date Closed: 1978-12-19

Synopsis: ON MARCH 29, 1978, THE OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS COMPANY (ONG) DISPATCHED A CREW TO SHUT OFF GAS SERVICE TO A SHOPPING CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY. THE CREW WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE A VALVE, SO THEY DISCONNECTED THE LINE ON THE LOW-PRESSURE SIDE OF THE REGULATOR AT A 2-INCH UNION AND PLUGGED THE LINE WITHOUT FIRST STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS. ON APRIL 24, 1978, ONG ASSIGNED A DIFFERENT CREW TO RESTORE GAS SERVICE TO THE SHOPPING CENTER. TWO EMPLOYEES WERE OVERCOME BY GAS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RECONNECT THE 2-INCH UNION WITHOUT FIRST STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS INSIDE THE VAULT. THREE OTHER ONG EMPLOYEES ENTERED THE VAULT THROUGH THE 19-INCH OPENING TO RESCUE THE MEN AND WERE ALSO OVERCOME; THE CREW DID NOT HAVE A RESPIRATOR AT THE JOB SITE. ONE MAN WAS PULLED OUT OF THE VAULT BY OTHER ONG WORKERS AND WAS REVIVED AT THE SCENE; HOWEVER, THE OTHER FOUR MEN DIED OF ASPHYXIATION.

Ntsbnumber: FTW78FP008

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Oklahoma Natural Gas Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1978-12-19

Addressee Acronym: Oneok

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-09-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS COMPANY LTR: OUR MODIFIED POLICY REQUIRES OUR EMPLOYEES TO USE A VALVE OR OTHER MEANS TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR RECONNECTING ACTIVE GAS LINES IN CONFINED SPACES.

Addressee Acronym: Oneok

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-12-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence