NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-018

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-018.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS: DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF COMPRESSOR STATION BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEMS TO PREVENT THE ACCUMU LATION OF GAS THAT MAY LEAK FROM FACILITIES IN THE BUILDING. FOR BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEMS THAT HAVE RESTRICTIVE DEVICES, WHICH IF FULLY OR PARTIALLY CLOSED WOULD ALLOW ACCUMULATIONS OF GAS, THESE GUIDELINES SHOULD INCLUDE SPECIFIC METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING AND ALERTING EMPLOYEES TO HAZARDOUS ACCUMULATIONS OF GAS AND FOR AUTO MATICALLY OPENING FULLY ALL RESTRICTIVE DEVICES WHEN SUCH ACCUMULATIONS ARE DETECTED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-07-14

Adopted Date: 1983-06-30

Overall Date Closed: 2002-05-07

Synopsis: ON DECEMBER 8, 1982, A FIVE-MEMBER CREW OF THE TRUNKLINE GAS COMPANY FOUND TWO LEAKS IN THE GASKETED VALVE COVERS OF A 10,000-HORSEPOWER COOPER-BESSEMER ENGINE, WHICH WAS HOUSED IN COMPRESSOR BUILDING B AT THE GAS COMPANY'S BONICORD, TENNESEE, FACILITY. AFTER TIGHTENING THE BOLTS ON THE COVERS, THE CREW STARTED THE ENGINE AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS. AT THE TIME, ONE CREWMEMBER WAS ON THE NORTH SIDE PLATFORM, AND THE OTHER CREWMEMBERS WERE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE AT FLOOR LEVEL. ABOUT 2 OR 3 MINUTES LATER AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED, FOLLOWED BY A FLASH FIRE. ALL FIVE CREWMEMBERS WERE INJURED SERIOUSLY, BUT WERE ABLE TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING. ONE CREWMEMBER DIED LATER THAT DAY, AND TWO OTHERS DIED A FEW DAYS LATER. THE BUILDING WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA83FP007

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-05-07

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-07-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: This is to acknowledge the receipt of your July 14, 1983 letter recommending that the Gas Piping Technology Committee develop guide material covering the ventilation of compressor stations, and the use of gas detection equipment. This recommendation will be considered at the next meeting of the comittee on November 1, 1983.

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-05-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Notation 7458: On September 16, 1993, the Office of Pipeline Safety issued regulations requiring gas detection alarms in compressor station buildings (49 CFR 192.736). The regulations also require the maintenance and testing of these alarms. The same material is provided in the Gas Piping Technology Committee (GPTC) Guide for Gas Transmission and Distribution Systems. This information is fully responsive to the intent of Safety Recommendation P-83-18, which staff believes should now be classified "Closed-Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-03-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: To date, the Safety Board has not received a response from ASME. The Board would appreciate learning what action has been taken to implement Safety Recommendation P-83-18.