NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-020

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-020.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: AMEND 49 CFR 192.173, REGARDING COMPRESSION STATION BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEMS EQUIPPED WITH RESTRICTIVE DEVICES, TO REQUIRE THE INSTALLATION OF GAS DETECTION SYSTEMS THAT WILL ALERT EMPLOYEES TO HAZARDOUS GAS ACCUMULATIONS AND AUTOMATICALLY OPEN FULLY ALL RESTRICTIVE DEVICES WHEN ACCUMULATIONS OF GAS ARE DETECTED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-07-14

Adopted Date: 1983-06-30

Overall Date Closed: 1993-11-30

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: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1993-11-30

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1993-11-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1993, RSPA PUBLISHED A FINAL RULE THAT REQUIRES EACH COMPRESSOR BUILDING IN A GAS PIPELINE COMPRESSOR STATION, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, TO HAVE A FIXED GAS DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEM BY SEPTEMBER 16, 1996. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, RECOMMENDATION P-83-20 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1987-03-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WE PLAN TO AMEND SEC. 192.173 TO REQUIRE GAS DETECTION DEVICES, AND SEC. 192.605 TO REQUIRE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES TO MONITOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GAS AND TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE RESPONSES TO SITUATIONS INVOLVING THE PRESENCE OF GAS. THE METHODOLOGY & CONDITIONS FOR OPERATING AND MAINTAINING VENTING SYSTEMS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE ADMENDMENT TO SEC. 192.605. WE BELIEVE IT IS NOT WITHIN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY IN ALL SITUATIONS TO REQUIRE FULL AUTOMATION OF VENTING SYSTEMS UPON DISCOVERY OF GAS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN HALON OR FOAM FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS ARE INSTALLED, OPERATION OF VENTING SYSTEMS MAY PREVENT SUCH FIRE SUPPRESSING SYSTEMS FROM FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THEREFORE, WE INTEND TO REQUIRE THE OPERATORS TO DEVELOP RESPONSE PROCE DURES FOR THE INTEGRAL OPERATION OF COMPRESSOR STATION SAFETY SYSTEMS, AS A PROPER ALTERNATIVE TO AUTOMATIC VENTING.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1993-09-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM RSPA ON THIS RECOMMENDATION SINCE THEIR LETTER OF MARCH 11, 1987 (COPY ENCLOSED). SEE FEDERAL REGISTER DATED SPETEMBER 16, 1993, COPY ENCLOSED

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1987-05-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1992-08-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence