NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-011

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-011.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: ADVISE ITS MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT, AND URGE THEM TO INCLUDE IN THEIR TRAINING PROGRAMS INFORMATION FOR THEIR OWN PERSONEL AND LOCAL FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL REGARDING THE HAZARDS OF SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS OR FIRE WHICH MAY EXIST IF THE GAS SUPPLY IS NOT SHUT DOWN.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-05-13

Adopted Date: 1981-04-28

Overall Date Closed: 1982-08-16

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: Fire, Firefighting, Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA81AP001

Report Number: PAR-81-01

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-08-16

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1981-08-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION LTR: RECOMMENDATION P-81-11 COULD BE INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT PIPELINE SHUTDOWN SHOULD BE THE RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING ALL SUCH GAS SYSTEM EMERGENCIES. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THERE ARE CERTAIN HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH TAKING FUEL PIPING SYSTEMS OUT OF SERVICE AND PLACING THEM BACK INTO SERVICE. INDISCRIMINATE SHUTDOWN OF A SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN GREATER HAZARDS THAN NO SHUTDOWN AT ALL. EACH EMERGENCY IS UNIQUE AND MUST BE HANDLED BY THE OPERATOR, AFTER THE OPERATOR TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE CONDITIONS AT THE SITE. CONSEQUENTLY, AGA RECOMMENDS THAT COMPANIES INCLUDE IN THEIR TRAINING PROGRAMS INSTRUCTION IN THE PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL SYSTEMS REGARDING SERVICE SHUTOFF. IN ADDITION, OPERATORS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REVIEW THEIR PROCEDURES TO ASSURE THAT ALL SERVICE SHUTOFFS ARE ACCESSIBLE.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1981-12-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION LETTER TO ALL MEMBER COMPANY DELEGATES DATED 12/11/81: AGA FORWARDED A COPY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, A COPY OF THEIR LETTER DATED 8/13/81, AND NTSB REPLY DATED 9/25/81 TO ALL MEMBER COMPANY DELEGATES. PER THEIR LETTER -- THE COORDINATING GROUP FOR PIPELINE SAFETY HAS REVIEWED THE NTSB RESPONSE AND ASKED THAT WE DISTRIBUTE THE NTSB RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE SUPPORTING CORRESPONDENCE TO THE APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL IN OUR MEMBER COMPANIES IN KEEPING WITH OUR CONTINUING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1981-09-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-08-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence