NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-010

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-010.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: NOTIFY ITS MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THEM TO EMPHASIZE TO THEIR SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL THE NEED FOR STRICT ADHERENCE TO ESTABLISHED COMPANY SAFETY PROCEDURES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-03-24

Adopted Date: 1983-03-10

Overall Date Closed: 1983-06-13

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: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-06-13

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-08-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 08/30/2000 4:14:50 PM MC# 2001184

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-05-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AGA LETTER: THE FOLLOWING NOTICE WAS FORWARDED TO AGA MEMBER COMPANY DELEGATES ON MAY 9, 1983: ENCLOSED IS THE NTSB SAFETY RECOMMENDATION REFERRED ABOVE, WHICH REQUESTS AGA TO NOTIFY ITS MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THEM TO EMPHASIZE TO THEIR SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL THE NEED FOR STRICT ADHERENCE TO ESTABLISH COMPANY SAFETY PROCEDURES.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-06-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence