NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-050

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-050.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY OF DUBLIN GAS DEPARTMENT: HAVE AIR BREATHING EQUIPMENT, SAFETY BELTS AND ROPES, AND OPERABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS READILY ACCESSIBLE AT THE WORK SITE BEFORE BEGINNING ANY OPERATIONS IN WHICH ESCAPING GAS MAY POSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC OR TO EMPLOYEES. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-12-10

Adopted Date: 1982-11-26

Overall Date Closed: 1988-05-11

Synopsis: ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1982, NATURAL GAS, BLOWING AT 15 PSIG FROM THE OPEN ENDS OF A 2 1/4-INCH CAST-IRON GAS MAIN LOCATED IN A DEEP, NARROW EXCAVATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF COOPER AND MARSHAL STREETS IN DUBLIN, GEORGIA, WAS IGNITED BY AN UNKNOWN SOURCE. THREE CITY OF DUBLIN GAS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES WHO WERE WORKING IN THE EXCAVATION WERE CRITICALLY BURNED. THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT OF THE GAS DEPARTMENT, WHO WAS STANDING AT THE EDGE OF THE EXCAVATION, HELPED THE INJURED OUT OF THE DITCH AND WAS SERIOUSLY BURNED IN THE PROCESS.

Keywords: Hazmat

Ntsbnumber: DCA82FP021

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: State of Georgia, City of Dublin

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-05-11

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1988-03-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE CITY OF DUBLIN HAS RESPONDED TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AFOREMENTIONED CITE BY EMBRACING THEM AND IN SOME CASES STRENGHTENING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NTSB CONCERNING GAS SAFETY. EACH OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, EXCEPT THE AIR BREATHING EQUIPMENT, HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE AND ARE CURRENTLY IN USE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY HAS ISSUED SAFETY REGULATIONS THAT ANYONE WORKING NEAR A SITUATION THAT WOULD ALLOW, OR IS SUSPECTED OF HAVING ESCAPING GAS, MUST BE OUTFITTED IN FIRE RESISTANT COVERINGS. ANYTIME A CITY OF DUBLIN EMPLOYEE IS IN AN EXCAVATED AREA, WORKING WITH A NATURAL GAS LINES, HE/SHE MUST BE OUTFITTED IN FIRE RETARDANT CLOTHING. THIS IS TRUE EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A STANDING REGULATION THAT THERE WILL BE NO CUTS OF PIPE UNDER PRESSURE IN THE CITY OF DUBLIN. THE CITY OF DUBLIN IS MAKING EVERY DILIGENT EFFORT TO HAVE IN PLACE SAFETY REGULATIONS THAT WILL PREVENT ANY ACCIDENT SIMILAR TO THE ONE REFERENCED IN YOUR REPORT. THE CITY APPRECIATES YOUR CONCERN AND YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. IT WAS THE BELIEF OF THE CITY THAT CORRESPONDENCE INDICATING OUR COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAD BEEN FORWARDED TO THE BOARD IN A PERIOD SHORTLY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1988-05-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1988-02-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence