NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-007

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-007.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT: EXAMINE LOCATIONS WHERE DITCH-CLEANING AND ROAD-GRADING ACTIVITIES ARE PLANNED FOR PIPELINE MARKERS AND NOTIFY OPERATORS AT LEAST 2 WORKING DAYS BEFORE EXCAVATION IS BEGUN TO PERMIT ACCURATE MARKING OF THE FACILITY'S LOCATION AND DEPTH.

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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