{"operation":"document","citation":"P-78-053","title":"NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-053","source_type":"guidance","agency":"National Transportation Safety Board","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1978-08-28","effective_on":"1978-08-28","summary":"REQUIRE ITS EMPLOYEES TO USE VALVES OR OTHER MEANS TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR RECONNECTING ACTIVE GAS LINES. (URGENT)","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-78-053.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-78-053.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-78-053","source_url":"https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-053","body":"NTSB safety recommendation P-78-053.\n\nREQUIRE ITS EMPLOYEES TO USE VALVES OR OTHER MEANS TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR RECONNECTING ACTIVE GAS LINES. (URGENT)\n\nPriority: CLASS I\n\nOverall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action\n\nIssued Date: 1978-08-28\n\nAdopted Date: 1978-09-09\n\nOverall Date Closed: 1978-12-19\n\nSynopsis: 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.\n\nNtsbnumber: FTW78FP008\n\nReport Number: None\n\nAddressee Name: Oklahoma Natural Gas Corporation\n\nAddressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable\n\nAddressee Date Closed: 1978-12-19\n\nAddressee Acronym: Oneok\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1978-09-06\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence\n\nCommunication 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.\n\nAddressee Acronym: Oneok\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1978-12-19\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence","truncated":false,"body_characters":1912}