NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-023

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-023.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION: PROVIDE CHECKLISTS TO SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL FOR MAJOR WORK PROJECTS TO IDENTIFY THE ESSENTIAL ACTIONS TO BE PERFORMED, BEFORE STARTING WORK AND WHILE WORK IS IN PROGRESS, TO ENSURE EMPLOYEE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-09-07

Adopted Date: 1983-07-26

Overall Date Closed: 1988-09-22

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 1, 1982, A 1/4-INCH-THICK STEEL PLATE, WHICH HAD BEEN WELDED BY A WORK CREW TO CAP TEMPORARILY THE OPEN END OF A SECTION OF A 22-INCH-DIAMETER GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE WHICH HAD BEEN ISOLATED BY CLOSING A GATE VALVE AND THEN GAS FREED, BLEW OFF UNDER AN INITIAL PRESSURE OF POSSIBLY 260 PSIG. RAPIDLY ESCAPING NATURAL GAS FROM THE PIPELINE, WHICH HAD ACCUMULATED DUE TO A LEAK IN THE GATE VALVE, IGNITED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND THE ENTIRE WORK AREA AND A PORTION OF U.S. ROUTE 65 WERE MOMENTARILY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. SEVEN PERSONS WHO WERE WORKING TO REPLACE A SECTION OF THE PIPELINE UNDER THE ROAD ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTH OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS, WERE BURNED AND HOSPITALIZED. RESULTANT PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL.

Ntsbnumber: FTW83LA007

Report Number: PAR-83-03

Addressee Name: Mississippi River Transmission Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-09-22

Addressee Acronym: MRT

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-07-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: "THE JOB SUPERINTENDENT'S DAILY MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION CHECK LIST" FORM 783 IS TO BE UTILIZED ANY TIME AS MANY AS ONE ITEM ON LIST APPLIES.

Addressee Acronym: MRT

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-06-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: MRT

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-09-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence