NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-069

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-069.

IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS AND COOPERATION BETWEEN ITS ENGINEERING AND FIELD PERSONNEL TO INSURE THAT RESPONSIBLE GAS COMPANY EMPLOYEES ARE AWARE OF A CONTRACTOR'S QUESTIONS REGARDING GAS FACILITIES AS THE CONTRACTOR'S WORK PROGRESSES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-12-29

Adopted Date: 1978-12-07

Overall Date Closed: 1983-08-15

Synopsis: ON JUNE 12, 1978, A 10-INCH NATURAL GAS PIPELINE OWNED BY THE GAS SERVICE COMPANY WAS STRUCK AND RUPTURED BY EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT DURING CONSTRUCTION OF A SEWER IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. THE NATURAL GAS ESCAPED FROM A 5-INCH-LONG HOLE IN THE PIPELINE. THE GAS IGNITED WHILE TWO GAS COMPANY EMPLOYEES WERE CLEANING THE PIPE WITH HAND TOOLS BEFORE INSTALLING A PIPE REPAIR CLAMP. BOTH MEN WERE BURNED SERIOUSLY.

Ntsbnumber: DCA78MP020

Report Number: PAR-78-05

Addressee Name: Gas Service Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-08-15

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-04-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: GAS SERVICE COMPANY LETTER: IN APRIL 1979, A WRITTEN POLICY WAS ISSUED RELATIVE TO: (A) THE NEED TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH CITIES, ETC., RELATIVE TO PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS. (B) PAY STRICT ATTENTION TO REQUESTS FOR FACILITY LOCATIONS AND KEEP PROPER RECORDS OF SAME. (C) MAINTAIN FIELD CONTACT WITH CONTRACTORS DOING EXCAVATING WORK, ALONG WITH CONTINUATION FIELD OBSERVATION OF WORK PROGRESS, SO AS TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY OF MARKERS, ETC. DISCUSS AND EMPHASIS THE NEED FOR OPERATORS TO DIG SAFELY WITH CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL. (D) IN MAY 1981, A NEW "REQUEST TO LOCATE FORM" WAS INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE A RECORD OF REQUESTS FOR LOCATIONS. THE NEW FORMAT IS MORE INCLUSIVE AND IS A RECORD OF WHAT, HOW, WHEN AND WHERE A LOCATION REQUEST IS BEING HANDLED. (E) REQUIRE THAT ON-SITE INSPECTIONS IN AREAS OF EXCAVATION INCLUDE BEING SURE PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED MARKERS ARE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-08-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-04-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence