NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-025

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-025.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION: INCLUDE IN ITS TRAINING PROGRAM COURSES DESIGNED EXPLICITLY FOR SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL TO AID THEM IN UNDERSTANDING THE PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING ESTABLISHED SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND TO ASSIST THEM IN ASSESSING THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN PERFORMING WORK NOT SPECIFICALLY DETAILED WITHIN THE WRITTEN WORK PROCEDURES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-09-07

Adopted Date: 1983-07-26

Overall Date Closed: 1989-04-27

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.

Keywords: Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: FTW83LA007

Report Number: PAR-83-03

Addressee Name: Mississippi River Transmission Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1989-04-27

Addressee Acronym: MRT

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-07-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: EACH YEAR PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION SEASON, REVIEW AND DISCUSS WITH THE DIVISION AND STATION SUPERINTENDENTS THE FOLLOWING: 1. NOVEMBER 10, 1982, GUIDELINES. 2. "JOB SUPERINTENDENT'S DAILY MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION CHECK LIST." 3. NTSB 9/7/83, RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHICH THIS IS A PART. 4. APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF THE O&M MANUAL.

Addressee Acronym: MRT

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-11-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-83-25 SUGGESTS THAT MRT SHOULD PROVIDE TRAINING PROGRAMS TO AID ITS EMPLOYEES IN UNDERSTANDING THE PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING ESTABLISHED SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND TO ASSIST THEM IN ASSESSING THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN PERFORMING WORK NOT SPECIFICALLY DETAILED WITHIN THE WRITTEN WORK PROCEDURES. IN YOUR LETTER, YOU REQUESTED MORE DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN PLACE AT MRT, AND STATED THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE HELD IN AN "OPEN- ACCEPTABLE ACTION" STATUS UNTIL SUCH INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED. I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT MRT HAS IMPLEMENTED THE FOLLOWING TRAINING PROGRAMS AND OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR ITS EMPLOYEES, WHICH SHOULD SATISFY THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-83-25: A) MRT REQUIRES EACH OF ITS FIELD EMPLOYEES TO COMPLETE A FIELD EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM TRAINS MRT EMPLOYEES TO OPERATE, MAINTAIN AND REPAIR FACILITIES IN A SAFE AND EFFICIENT MANNER. ATTACHMENT 1 IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE RECORD BOOK EACH EMPLOYEE MUST MAINTAIN AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM. B) MRT HAS, FOR 1989 AS IN THE PAST YEARS, BUDGETED FOR OUTSIDE TRAINING. ATTACHMENT 2 LISTS THE OUTSIDE TRAINING COURSES SCHEDULED FOR MRT EMPLOYEES IN 1989. MRT HAS USED THESE AND OTHER SCHOOLS FOR OUTSIDE TRAINING FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 10 YEARS. C) SINCE 1976, MRT HAS EMPLOYED A HOME STUDY PROGRAM AS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL VEHICLE FOR TRAINING ITS EMPLOYEES. ATTACHMENT 3 PROVIDES A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE COURSES OFFERED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. D) MRT CONDUCTS "CHALK TALK" SESSIONS TO DISCUSS EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THESE ARE IN ADDITION TO REGULAR SAFETY MEETINGS. E) MRT IS IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING IN EACH REGION AVID MAINTENANCE. THE VIDEOS WILL BE SHOWN TO BOTH SUPERVISORY AND NONSUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES ON A REGULAR BASIS. F) MRT REQUIRES SUPERVISORS AND ALL EMPLOYEES TO REVIEW THE "SAFE OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL" ONCE EACH YEAR. ATTACHMENT 4 IS A COPY OF THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS MANUAL. G) MRT SCHEDULES MONTHLY MEETINGS AT EACH FIELD LOCATION TO DISCUSS AN AGENDA PREPARED BY MRT'S SAFETY DEPARTMENT. THESE MEETINGS PROVIDE A FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF SPECIFIC SAFETY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AT EACH LOCATION. H) MRT HAS A PROGRAM IN WHICH LESS EXPERIENCED SUPERVISORS ARE TEAMED WITH HIGHLY EXPERIENCED SUPERVISORS FOR TRAINING. THIS PROGRAM HAS ENHANCED ON THE JOB TRAINING AND MADE IT A MORE VALUABLE TRAINING TOOL FOR BOTH EMPLOYEES AND SUPERVISORS. I) MRT REQUIRES EACH OF ITS SUPERVISORS TO REVIEW THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS PRIOR TO THE START OF EACH CONSTRUCTION SEASON: 1. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTION SAFETY PRACTICES, DEVELOPED BY MRT ON NOVEMBER 10, 1982. 2. JOB SUPERINTENDENTS DAILY MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION CHECK LIST. 3. NTSB SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS P-83-22 THROUGH 25. 4. APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF MRT'S OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL. J) PRIOR TO BEGINNING EACH JOB, EACH SUPERVISOR IS REQUIRED TO REVIEW APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL TO DEVELOP A JOB PLAN APPLICABLE TO THAT PARTICULAR JOB. (SEE ATTACHMENT 5) K) ALL ACCIDENT REPORTS ISSUED BY THE NTSB ARE DISTRIBUTED TO EACH SUPERVISOR AS A LEARNING TOOL. L) MRT REQUIRES ALL ITS SUPERVISORS TO ATTEND THE ARKLA MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT/SUPERVISORY SKILL PROGRAM. M) ALL EMPLOYEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS BY MRT'S EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR COMPLETED COURSES. I HOPE THAT THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL ALLOW YOU TO ALTER THE STATUS OF SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS P-83-22 AND -25 TO "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION." IF I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME.

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: 1989-04-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: MRT

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-09-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence