NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-011

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-011.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE: INCLUDE WITHIN ITS ONGOING RESEARCH FOR ASSESSING THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL FOR SUCH VALVES TO PREVENT OR MINIMIZE THE EFFECT OF ACCIDENTS WHICH MAY OCCUR WHILE WORK IS BEING PERFORMED ON THE SYSTEM BY GAS COMPANY EMPLOYEES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-03-24

Adopted Date: 1983-03-10

Overall Date Closed: 1983-05-24

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: Excess Flow Valves

Ntsbnumber: DCA83FP003

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Gas Research Institute

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-05-24

Addressee Acronym: GRI

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-04-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE (GRI) LETTER: THE RECOMMENDED RESEARCH IS INCLUDED IN GRI'S CURRENT RESEARCH PROGRAM IN WHICH WE HAVE ASKED OUR RESEARCH CONTRACTOR TO IDENTIFY SCENARIOS THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE USE OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES AND ASCERTAIN POTENTIAL BENEFITS IN TERMS OF ACHIEVABLE RISK REDUCTION. WE WILL BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR RESEARCH CONTRACTOR THE ACCIDENT DISCUSSED IN YOUR LETTER TO ENSURE THAT THE SAFETY ASSESSMENT INCLUDES THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.

Addressee Acronym: GRI

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-06-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: GRI

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-05-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: GRI

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-09-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence