NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-008

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-008.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA: ADVISE ITS MEMBER CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES OF THE DETAILS OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THEM (1) NOT TO EXCAVATE UNTIL THEY HAVE NOTIFIED ALL OPERATORS OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES IN THE AREA OF THEIR PLANS TO EXCAVATE, AND (2) TO UTILIZE ONE-CALL SERVICE WHENEVER IT IS AVAILABLE.

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: Associated General Contractors of America

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-05-11

Addressee Acronym: AGC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-03-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ENCLOSED, FOR YOUR INFORMATION, IS A COPY OF A SAFETY & HEALTH BULLETIN DATED APRIL 21, 1982, WHICH RELAYS THE RECOMMENDATION TO AGC'S 104 CHAPTERS AND SEVERAL AGC COMMITTEES. ALSO, ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF AGC'S NATIONAL NEWSLETTER DATED APRIL 28, 1982 REFERENCING THE RECOMMENDATION THAT "CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS NOTIFY ALL OPERATORS OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES BEFORE EXCAVATING NEAR THOSE UTILITIES." IN ADDITION, AGC HAS AVAILABLE FOR CHAPTERS AND MEMBERS A RESOURCE LIBRARY ON THE PROGRAM ENTITLED "CALL BEFORE YOU DIG". THOSE PROGRAMS ARE THE SUBJECT OF CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS DURING AGC'S NATIONAL MEETINGS.

Addressee Acronym: AGC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-05-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: AGC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-02-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence