NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-004

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-004.

AS A RESULT OF ITS INVESTIGATION OF THIS ACCIDENT, THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA: REQUEST THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE PERSONS EXCAVATING OR DISCHARGING EXPLOSIVES NEAR UNDERGROUND UTILITIES, OR DEMOLISHING BUILDINGS CONTAINING UTILITIES, TO NOTIFY OPERATORS OF PUBLIC UTILITIES IN ADVANCE USING ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS WHERE THEY ARE ESTABLISHED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-04-16

Adopted Date: 1982-02-25

Overall Date Closed: 1988-05-11

Synopsis: ON AUGUST 25, 1981, IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A 16-INCH NATURAL GAS MAIN OWNED BY THE PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY (PG & E) WAS PUNCTURED BY A DRILL THAT AN EXCAVATION CONTRACTOR WAS USING TO SET TIEBACKS FOR ANCHORING HIS EXCAVATION SHORING. ESCAPING NATURAL GAS BLEW UPWARD AND CARRIED INTO THE EMBARCADERO COMPLEX AND OTHER NEARBY BUILDINGS. THERE WAS NO IGNITION; HOWEVER, THE GAS STREAM ENTRAINED AN OIL CONTAINING POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL (PCB). FALL-OUT AFFECTED AN EIGHT-SQUARE-BLOCK AREA OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL DISTRICT COVERING BUILDINGS, CARS, TREES, PEDESTRIANS, POLICE, AND FIREMEN. APPROXIMATELY 30,000 PERSONS WERE SAFELY EVACUATED FROM THE AREA IN 45 MINUTES. NO ONE WAS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED, ALTHOUGH MANY PERSONS WERE SPRAYED WITH THE PCB OIL MIST.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA81MP020

Report Number: PAR-82-01

Addressee Name: State of California, Public Utilities Commission

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-05-11

Addressee Acronym: CPUC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1988-03-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT ON 9/9/86 THE STATE ENACTED ASSEMBLY BILL 3020 (ENCLOSED) MANDATING ALL PERSONS EXCAVATING NEAR UNDERGROUND UTILITIES TO NOTIFY OPERATORS OF PUBLIC UTILITIES IN ADVANCE USING THE ONE-CALL REGIONAL CENTERS IN EITHER NORTHERN OR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE THEY ARE ESTABLISHED. ANY MEMBER OR EXCAVATOR WHO KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY VIOLATES THIS LAW IS SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,000 WHICH IS DEPOSITED IN THE GENERAL FUND.

Addressee Acronym: CPUC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1988-02-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: CPUC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1988-05-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence