NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-029

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-029.

AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION OF THIS ACCIDENT, THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN ROAD AND TRANSPORTATION BUILDERS' ASSOCIATION, AND THE NATIONAL UTILITIES CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION: ADVISE THEIR 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 WHEREVER IT IS AVAILABLE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-06-18

Adopted Date: 1982-06-03

Overall Date Closed: 2002-05-28

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 Utility Contractors Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-05-28

Addressee Acronym: NUCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-05-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board has researched and determined that NUCA acted as requested and advised its membership of the details of the 1981 San Francisco natural gas fire and explosion accident. NUCA urged its members not to excavate before notifying all operators of underground utilities in the area of their plans to excavate, and to utilize one-call service wherever it is available. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-82-29 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Name: American Road and Transportation Builders Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-10-31

Addressee Acronym: ARTBA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-07-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN ROAD AND TRANSPORTATION BUILDERS ASSOCIATION (ARTBA) LTR: WE WILL CONVEY THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION FOR NOTIFICATION OF UTILITIES PRIOR TO ANY EXCAVATION. IN ADDITION, I HAVE ARRANGED FOR A PARAGRAPH TO BE INSERTED IN OUR NEXT NEWSLETTER TO ADVISE ALL OF THE ARTBA MEMBERS OF THE NEED TO CONTACT ALL UTILITIES PRIOR TO EXCAVATION. WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN OVER THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT AND ASSURE YOU THAT WE FULLY ENDORSE THE "ONE CALL" SYSTEM FOR UTILITY NOTIFICATION.

Addressee Acronym: ARTBA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-10-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN ROAD AND TRANSPORTATON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION LETTER: I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE LETTER I WROTE TO EACH OF OUR 2,300 CONTRACTOR MEMBERS. IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT ALL OF OUR OTHER MEMBERS, WHO ARE INVOLVED IN ANY MANNER OF EXCAVATION WERE ADVISED, WE NOTED THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN OUR JULY 13, 1982, ARTBA NEWSLETTER.

Addressee Acronym: ARTBA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-09-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: ARTBA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-11-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence