NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-028

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-028.

AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION OF THIS ACCIDENT, THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS: ADVISE ITS MEMBERS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT AND RECOMMEND THAT THEY CONFIRM THE ADEQUACY OF THEIR DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS IN PROVIDING ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FOR AFFECTED UTILITIES THROUGH CONSULTATION WITH THE UTILITY OPERATORS, AND THAT THEY NOTE ON THEIR DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND DRAWINGS THAT AFFECTED UTILITIES ARE TO BE NOTIFIED AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF ACTUAL EXCAVATION, USING THE ONE-CALL SYSTEM WHERE AVAILABLE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-06-18

Adopted Date: 1982-06-03

Overall Date Closed: 1983-04-12

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: National Society of Professional Engineers

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-04-12

Addressee Acronym: NSPE

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-07-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS LTR: THE ENGIN EER'S JOINT CONTRACT DOCUMENTS COMMITTEE HAS JUST UNDERTAKEN A PROGRAM OF ARTICLES IN THE CONSULTING ENGINEER MAGAZINE, WHICH IS SENT TO VIRTUALLY ALL CONSULTING ENGINEERS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH THE IDEA OF EXPLAINING MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT THE INSTANT CASE MAY BE AN APPROPRIATE ONE ON WHICH TO BASE AN ARTICLE ON THE OVERALL SUBJECT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNDERGROUND UTILITIES. FOR THAT PURPOSE, THEREFORE, I AM SENDING THE NTSB REPORT TO THOSE OF THE COMMITTEE WHO WILL BE PREPARING THE ARTICLES FOR CONSIDERATION AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF PROBLEMS WHICH SHOULD BE AVOIDED BY A CLEAR DELINEATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

Addressee Acronym: NSPE

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-12-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS GENERAL COUNSEL LETTER: REGARDING YOUR LETTER OF SEPT. 14, 1982, WE FINALLY GOT SOMETHING IN OUR NEWSPAPER (SEE P. 16). I HAD INCLUDED A FINAL PARAGRAPH ON HOW MEMBERS COULD WRITE IN TO NTSB FOR THE REPORT, BUT THE EDITOR CHOPPED IT FOR LACK OF SPACE.

Addressee Acronym: NSPE

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-09-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: NSPE

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-04-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence