NTSB Safety Recommendation P-79-022

NTSB safety recommendation P-79-022.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE COMPANY OF AMERICA: INCLUDE IN ITS WRITTEN PROCEDURES DESIGNATION OF SPECIAL COMPANY PERSONNEL WHO WILL CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR PRESSURES DURING PIPELINE MAINTENANCE WORK SIMILAR TO THIS PROJECT. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1979-08-08

Adopted Date: 1979-07-19

Overall Date Closed: 1979-09-19

Synopsis: ON APRIL 18, 1979, A 24-INCH NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE OWNED BY THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE COMPANY OF AMERICA (GAS COMPANY) PULLED OUT OF A COMPRESSION COUPLING DURING A LINE-LOWERING PROJECT UNDER IOWA STATE HIGHWAY 181 IN A RURAL AREA NEAR DALLAS, IOWA. WITHIN SECONDS, THE NATURAL GAS IGINITED AND BURNED A 900-FOOT BY 400-FOOT AREA. FIVE OF THE EIGHT INJURED WORKERS WERE HOSPITALIZED. TWO CARS, A PICKUP TRUCK, AND A TRAILER HOUSING CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT WERE DESTROYED. A BACKHOE WAS PARTLY DAMAGED, AND WINDOWS WERE BROKEN IN A NEARBY FARMHOUSE.

Ntsbnumber: DCA79FP013

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1979-09-19

Addressee Acronym: NGPL

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1979-08-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NATURAL GAS PIPELINE COMPANY OF AMERICA LTR: OUR WRITTEN PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN REVISED TO SPECIFY CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF PRESSURE DURING PIPELINE MAINTENANCE AND/OR CONSTRUCTION WORK. IN ADDITION, THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE PERSON RESPONSIBILE FOR THE PRESSURE MONITORING.

Addressee Acronym: NGPL

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1979-09-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence