NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-008

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-008.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY: EVALUATE ITS EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR WORK ON PIPELINES CONTAINING GAS UNDER PRESSURE FOR SUFFICIENT EMPHASIS ON EMPLOYEES' STRICTLY ADHERING TO COMPANY PROCEDURES IN THE INTEREST OF EMPLOYEE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND MODIFY THEM AS NECESSARY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-03-24

Adopted Date: 1983-03-10

Overall Date Closed: 1985-08-19

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 29, 1982, WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY DISPATCHED A THREE-PERSON CREW, CONSISTING OF A CREW LEADER, A CREW MECHANIC, AND A HELPER MECHANIC, TO MAKE THREE SERVICE LINE EXTENSIONS IN A NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT BURKE, VIRGINIA. THE EXTENSIONS WERE TO BE MADE WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF THE FLOW OF GAS IN THE MAIN. WHEN THE FOREMAN ARRIVED WITH THE BRANCH TEE, THE CREW MECHANIC VOLUNTEERED TO INSTALL THE TEE ON THE SERVICE LINE TO NO. 10025. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE CREW LEADER LOOKED UP AND DID NOT SEE THE CREW MECHANIC. HE WALKED TO NO. 10025 AND FOUND THE CREW MECHANIC FACE DOWN INSIDE THE EXCAVATION WITH GAS ESCAPING AT 18 PSIG FROM THE SERVICE LINE. HE PULLED THE CREW MECHANIC FROM THE EXCAVATION AND TRIED TO REVIVE HIM. WHEN THIS ACTION DID NOT REVIVE THE CREW MECHANIC, THE CREW LEADER RAN TO HIS TRUCK AND CALLED THE GAS COMPANY DISPATCHER. MEANWHILE, THE HELPER MECHANIC ARRIVED AT THE EXCAVATION SITE. BOTH THE CREW LEADER AND THE HELPER MECHANIC HAD ATTENDED COMPANY CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) TRAINING, BUT NEITHER ATTEMPTED TO USE THIS MEANS TO REVIVE THE CREW MECHANIC. ABOUT 4 TO 5 MINUTES LATER, A RESCUE SQUAD ARRIVED AND, AFTER ATTEMPTING TO REVIVE THE CREW MECHANIC, TRANSPORTED HIM TO THE HOSPITAL, WHERE HE WAS DECLARED DEAD.

Probable Cause: None

Keywords: Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA83FP003

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Washington Gas

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1985-08-19

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-06-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY LETTER: IN NOVEMBER 1982, THE TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF WGL REVIEWED ITS POLICIES, TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND SAFETY PROCEDURES ON WORKING WITH LIVE GAS. SPECIAL TRAINING MEETINGS WERE HELD AT ALL LOCATIONS DURING NOVEMBER COVERING THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS: (1) EFFECTS OF NATURAL GAS. (2) COMPANY PROCEDURES ON WORKING WITH LIVE GAS, EMPHASIZING THE REQUIREMENT OF TWO EMPLOYEES BEING PRESENT. (3) MINIMIZING THE ESCAPEMENT OF GAS WHEN MAKING CONNECTIONS OR REPAIRS. (4) CPR AND RESUSCITATION USAGE. (5) WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES. (6) A REVIEW OF THE OCTOBER 29, 1982 ACCIDENT AND CAUSE. (7) STRICT ADHERENCE TO COMPANY WORK AND SAFETY PROCEDURES. FORMAL TRAINING SESSIONS WERE THEN SCHEDULED WITH ALL T&D FIELD PERSONNEL COVERING THE ABOVE AND OTHER SAFETY SUBJECTS IN DETAIL DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY THROUGH MARCH 1983. WRITTEN AND PRACTICAL TESTS WERE ADMINISTERED TO ASSURE COMPREHENSION OF THE SUBJECT MATTER. WGL CONDUCTS ANNUAL "REFRESHER" TRAINING ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND CERTAIN OTHER IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL ITEMS. WE PLAN TO INCLUDE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WITH LIVE GAS AS PART OF THE ANNUAL REFRESHER PROGRAM.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1984-08-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WASHINGTON GAS LETTER: THE ATTACHED DIRECTIVE HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OPERATING DEPARTMENT HEADS OF WASHINGTON GAS ON THE SUBJECT OF COMPANY POLICY AND PROCEDURES RELATING TO EMPLOYEE, CUSTOMER, AND PIPELINE SAFETY. IT IS, THEREFORE, REQUESTED THAT ALL OPERATING DEPARTMENT HEADS REVIEW THEIR TRAINING PROGRAMS AND TAKE WHATEVER ACTIONS NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH NTSB'S RECOMMENDATION P-83-8.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-03-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WGL LTR: TWO AREAS OF REVIEW HAVE BEEN COMPLETED WITH CHECKLISTS AND TRAINING QUALIFICATIONS RECOMMENDED AND FOUR OTHER AREAS ARE NOW UNDER REVIEW. A SUMMARY OF THESE ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS A WRITTEN DIRECTIVE TO ALL FIELD SUPERVISORS CONCERNING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IS INCLUDED.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-08-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1984-07-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-01-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence