NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-003

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-003.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY: INCORPORATE A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT FOR CURB BOX INSPECTIONS IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL GAS METER/REGULATOR INSPECTIONS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE KENTUCKY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION REGULATIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-05-13

Adopted Date: 1981-04-28

Overall Date Closed: 1983-02-02

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 9, 1980, A 2-INCH-DIAMETER COMPRESSION COUPLING LOCATED ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF A GAS METER SET ASSEMBLY IN THE BOILERROOM OF THE SIMON KENTON HIGH SCHOOL IN INDEPENDENCE, KENTUCKY, PULLED OUT OF ITS CONNECTION WITH A 2-INCH-DIAMETER GAS SERVICE LINE. NATURAL GAS AT 165-PSIG PRESSURE ESCAPED THROUGH THE 2-INCH-DIAMETER OPENING AND, SECONDS LATER, EXPLODED AND BURNED. A BASEMENT WALL WAS BLOWN DOWN, AN ADJACENT CLASSROOM WAS DAMAGED, AND ONE STUDENT WAS KILLED. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, A SECOND EXPLOSION OCCURED, WHICH INJURED 37 PERSONS AND EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED THE SHCOOL. THE GAS SERVICE LINE WAS CONNECTED TO A 4-INCH-DIAMETER GAS MAIN OWNED BY THE UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY (GAS COMPANY), A SUBSIDIARY OF THE CINCINNATI GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY, WHICH WAS UPRATING THE GAS MAIN BY CONTROLLED PRESSURE INCREASES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ntsbnumber: DCA81AP001

Report Number: PAR-81-01

Addressee Name: Union Light, Heat and Power Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-02-02

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY LTR: UNION LIGHT'S PROGRAM FOR SERVICE COCK/VALUE ACCESSIBILITY, OPERABILITY AND RECORDS CHECK IS NOW AS FOLLOWS: (1) PHYSICAL INSPECTIONS OF ALL SERVICE COCK/VALVE BOXES FOR ACCESSIBILITY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. (2) OPERABILITY CHECK OF SERVICE COCK/VALVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY METER CHANGE. (3) CONTINUING FIELD CHECK OF SERVICE COCK/VALVE BOX LOCATION RECORDS ON A FREQUENCY NOT TO EXCEED 10 YEARS. UNION LIGHT INITIATED ITS ANNUAL ACCESSIBILITY INSPECTIONS OF ALL SERVICE COCK/VALVE BOX INSTALLATIONS IN THE EARLY 1970'S OF ALL SERVICES OF RECORD. APPROXIMATELY 58,000 WERE INSPECTED IN 1981.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-02-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence