NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-057

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-057.

ADVISE ITS MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THEM TO REVIEW THEIR OPERATING PRACTICES, PROCEDURES, AND REGULATIONS RELATED TO PERSONNEL WORKING IN CONFINED AREAS. THIS REVIEW SHOULD INCLUDE BOTH PROMULGATION OF PROCEDURES AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-08-28

Adopted Date: 1978-09-09

Overall Date Closed: 1980-02-14

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 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: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1980-02-14

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1979-11-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 11/16/79 - AGA LTR: SAFETY RECOMMENDATION BEING ADDRESSED IN GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1980-02-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence