NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-006.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT: ASSIGN TO SUPERVISORS OF EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ASSURING THAT EQUIPMENT OPERATORS ARE APPRISED OF THE PRECISE LOCATIONS OF ALL PIPELINES IN THE AREAS WHERE THE EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT WILL OPERATE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-02-26

Adopted Date: 1980-02-15

Overall Date Closed: 1983-04-01

Synopsis: ON AUGUST 20, 1979, A BULLDOZER OPERATED BY THE ORANGE COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT, ORANGE, TEXAS, BEGAN TO CLEAN A FARM DRAINAGE DITCH WITH A GENERALLY NORTH-SOUTH ALIGNMENT. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL PASSES ACROSS THE DITCH, THE OPERATOR HEADED THE BULLDOZER SOUTH ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE DITCH. AT 2:15 P.M. THE CORNER OF THE BLADE CUT INTO A PROPANE LINE, OWNED BY THE CITIES SERVICE PIPE LINE COMPANY, WHICH CROSSED BENEATH THE DITCH IN AN EAST-WEST DIRECTION. PROPANE AT 350 PSIG ESCAPED AND WAS IGNITED WITHIN SECONDS. THE RESULTING FIRE KILLED ONE PERSON AND INJURED ANOTHER, AND CAUSED CONSIDERABLE PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Ntsbnumber: FTW79FP014

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: State of Texas, County of Orange, Drainage District

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-04-01

Addressee Acronym: OCDD

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1982-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: OCDD

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-04-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence