NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-009

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-009.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY: EMPHASIZE TO ITS SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE THAT EMPLOYEES UNDER THEIR DIRECTION ADHERE TO ESTABLISHED GAS COMPANY SAFETY PROCEDURES.

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

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: THIS ITEM WAS COVERED VERBALLY WITH SUPERVISORS SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. ALSO, DURING THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 19 THROUGH MAY 6, 1983, FORMAL MEETINGS WERE HELD WITH ALL T&D FIELD SUPERVISORS ON THE POLICY OF STRICT ADHERENCE TO PROCEDURES RELATING TO EMPLOYEE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

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-83-9.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-03-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WGL LTR: GAS SUPPLY DEPARTMENT HAS EXTENSIVELY REVIEWED PAST AND CURRENT TRAINING PROGRAMS, QUALIFICATION DETERMINATION FOR WORK ON GAS PRESSURIZED PIPELINES, SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROPER EXECUTION OF OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES, AND THE APPROPRIATENESS OF OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. THAT ACTION EMPHASIZED SAFETY IN GENERAL AND THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS IDENTIFIED BY NTSB RECOMMENDATIONS P-83-8 AND 9.

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