NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-071

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-071.

REVISE ITS EMERGENCY PLAN TO SHOW WHAT SEGMENTS OF A PIPELINE CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR REPAIRS, AND ESTABLISH THE MAXIMUM SAFE OPERATING PRESSURES FOR REPAIRS TO SUCH PIPELINES.

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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 MAY OF 1979, A PROCEDURE WAS WRITTEN INTO THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION MANUAL RELATIVE TO HANDLING REPAIRS, ESPECIALLY GUIDELINING THE NEED TO CONSIDER DOWNWARD A REVISION OF PRESSURES AND/OR THE SHUTDOWN OF A PIPING SYSTEM SO AS TO ACCOMPLISH A REPAIR. IT FURTHER POINTED TO THE NEED FOR SUPERVISORY DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT PRESSURE REDUCTION OR SYSTEM SHUTDOWN WOULD BE NECESSARY AND REQUIRES SUPERVISORY APPROVAL AS TO WHEN WORKMEN CAN PHYSICALLY BEGIN THE REPAIR PROCEDURE. ALSO SPECIFIED WAS THE NEED TO TRAIN WORKMEN AS TO HOW TO PROPERLY INSTALL VARIOUS REPAIR FITTINGS AND TO PERIODICALLY CHECK REPAIR FITTING STOCK TO BE SURE OF CONTINUED PROPRIETY SO AS TO BE READY FOR USE.

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