NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-005

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-005.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY: PROVIDE ADEQUATE TRAINING FOR GAS COMPANY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC BUILDING INSPECTIONS SO THAT ALL COMPANY FACILITIES ARE PROPERLY INSPECTED.

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.

Keywords: Training and Education

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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 CUSTOMER SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHO CONDUCT DESIGNATED BUILDING INSPECTIONS WERE GIVEN REFRESHER TRAINING WHICH WAS STARTED MAY 19, 1981, AND COMPLETED NOVEMBER 4, 1981. RECORDS OF THOSE TRAINED, DATES, AND TRAINING FORMAT ARE BEING RETAINED BY UNION. PRIOR TO THE REFRESHER TRAINING, UNION LIGHT REVISED ITS SURVEY PROCEDURES AND REPORTING PROCEDURES TO REQUIRE POSITIVE REPORTING OF THE ITEMS REQUIRED TO BE COVERED DURING THE DESIGNATED BUILDING INSPECTION.

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