NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-039

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-039.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY OF CENTRALIA, MISSOURI: INSTRUCT THE CITY'S EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT OPERATORS NOT TO COMMENCE EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES UNTIL THEY HAVE DETERMINED THE SPECIFIC LOCATION OF UNDERGROUND UTILITY LINE IN THE AREA.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-09-08

Adopted Date: 1982-08-24

Overall Date Closed: 1995-05-25

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 28, 1982, AT CENTRALIA, MISSOURI, NATURAL GAS AT 47 PSIG ENTERED A LOW PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WHICH NORMALLY OPERATED AT 11 INCHES WATER COLUMN (0.40 PSIG) AFTER A BACKHOE BUCKET SNAGGED, RUPTURED, AND SEPARATED THE 3/4-INCH-DIAMETER STEEL PRESSURE REGULATOR CONTROL LINE AT THE MISSOURI POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY'S DISTRICT REGULATOR STATION NO. 1. THE BACKHOE, WHICH WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CITY OF CENTRALIA, WAS BEING USED TO CLEAN A DITCH LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE PRESSURE REGULATOR STATION. THE HIGH PRESSURE GAS ENTERING CUSTOMER PIPING SYSTEMS IN SOME CASES RESULTED IN HIGH PILOT LIGHT FLAMES WHICH INITIATED FIRES IN BUILDINGS; WHILE IN OTHER CASES, THE PILOT LIGHT FLAMES WERE BLOWN OUT, ALLOWING GAS TO ESCAPE WITHIN THE BUILDINGS. OF THE 167 BUILDINGS AFFECTED BY THE OVER PRESSURE, 12 WERE DESTROYED AND 32 SUSTAINED MODERATE TO HEAVY DAMAGES. FIVE PERSONS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA82MP010

Report Number: PAR-82-03

Addressee Name: State of Missouri, City of Centralia

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-05-25

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1995-05-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE CITY POLICY REQUIRES EMPLOYEES TO CONTACT THE MISSOURI ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION CENTER TO ALERT OTHER UTILITIES OF EXCAVATION PLANS SO THEY CAN MARK THEIR LINES INDEPENDENTLY BEFORE EXCAVATION BEGINS. BECAUSE THIS POLICY ADDRESSES THE AREAS OF CONCERN MENTIONED IN THE RECOMMENDATION, P-82-39 IS CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-03-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CITY OF CENTRALIA LETTER: WE ARE TAKING STEPS IN-HOUSE TO WORK OUT PROCEDURES TO GOVERN FUTURE CONDUCT OF EQUIPMENT OPERATORS IN EXCAVATING. THE PROCEDURES, ALTHOUGH NOT REFINED, WILL REQUIRE OPERATORS TO NOTE IN WRITING THE FACT THAT THEY DID CONTRACT UTILITIES BEFORE EXCAVATION. WHEN THESE PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY WORKED OUT AND ARE THOROUGHLY IMPLEMENTED, WE WILL ADVISE YOU. WE WILL ATTEMPT TO KEEP YOU INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING NOTIFICATION PRIOR TO EXCAVATION AS THEY OCCUR.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1995-02-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE STATE OF MISSOURI AMENDED THE STATUTES CONCERNING EXCAVATIONS IN 1991. ALL CITY EMPLOYEES ARE CONTINUALLY REMINDED OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF STATE STATUTES REGARDING DIGGING & "EXCAVATIONS" WHICH STATES: BEFORE BEGINNING ANY EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES, EMPLOYEES MUST CONTACT ALL OTHER UTILITIES WHICH MIGHT HAVE UNDERGROUND LINES, EQUIPMENT OR OTHER FACILITIES. UNION ELECTRIC & MOST OTHER UTILITIES WITH BURIED FACILITIES ARE MEMBERS OF MISSOURI ONE CALL. THE CITY OF CENTRALIA IS NOT A MEMBER, BUT WE DO USE IT FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE OTHER UTILITIES, & WE DO KEEP A LOG OF ALL REQUESTS TO US FOR LOCATES, AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE LAW. THE STATE LAW ALSO REQUIRES GAS PIPELINE TO ANNUALLY SEND NOTICES BY CERTIFIED MAIL TO ALL POTENTIAL EXCAVATORS IN THE AREA OF THEIR FACILITIES. WE REGULARLY GET SUCH NOTICES FROM UNION ELECTRIC. THE CITY NOW DOES MUCH MORE OF ITS OWN CONSTRUCTION. THE ACTION OF PROTECTING OUR OWN LINES & MAINS MAKES EMPLOYEES MUCH MORE AWARE OF THE NEED TO PROTECT THE LINES. & MAINS OF THE OTHER UTILITIES.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-05-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence