NTSB Safety Recommendation P-84-036

NTSB safety recommendation P-84-036.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ASME GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: DEVELOP AND ISSUE GUIDELINES FOR SAFELY BYPASSING AND ISOLATING SEGMENTS OF PIPELINES OR CONTROL EQUIPMENT FROM GAS UNDER PRESSURE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1984-08-23

Adopted Date: 1984-08-09

Overall Date Closed: 2002-05-07

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 13, 1983, SEVEN EMPLOYEES OF THE WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY WERE ASSIGNED TO PERFORM REQUIRED ANNUAL OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS ON A FLOW CONTROL VALVE AND A PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE AT ITS HERNDON GATE STATION IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA. AS PART OF THE WORK TO BE DONE, THE EMPLOYEES DISCONNECTED THE GAS CONTROL SIGNAL LINE AND REMOVED THE BOLTS OF THE FLOW CONTROL VALVE BONNET BEFORE INSPECTING THE PIPE SEGMENT CONTAINING THE CONTROL VALVES TO INSURE THAT IT HAD BEEN ISOLATED AND VENTED PROPERLY. AT 10:13 A.M., WHILE TRYING TO REMOVE THE VALVE BONNET, NATURAL GAS AT ABOUT 150 PSIG BLEW THE BONNET UPWARD, AND GAS FILLED THE ENCLOSED PORTION OF THE BUILDING IN WHICH THE EMPLOYEES WERE WORKING. THE EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE STATION FLED OUTSIDE TO SAFETY; HOWEVER, THE FOREMAN REENTERED THE BUILDING. MOMENTS LATER, AT 10:18 A.M., GAS WAS IGNITED AND EXPLOSION AND FIRE, FOLLOWED DEMOLISHING THE BUILDING. THE FOREMAN WAS KILLED AND TWO EMPLOYEES RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT, AS WELL AS THOSE INVOLVED IN THE OCTOBER 29, 1982, ACCIDENT AT BURKE, VIRGINIA, INDICATE THE NEED FOR BETTER TRAINING OF WGL EMPLOYEES TO SUPPORT THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF PROCEDURES AND TO BE ALERT TO THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES WHEN SUCH PROCEDURES ARE NOT CARRIED OUT EXPLICITLY. WHILE THE SAFETY BOARD IS PLEASED THAT WGL HAS INTENSIFIED TRAINING GIVEN TO ITS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES, AN EQUALLY INTENSIVE EFFORT APPEARS NEEDED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WHOSE RESPONSIBILITIES INVOLVE OPERATIONS WHEREIN A FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND OR TO FOLLOW REQUIRED SAFETY PROCEDURES MAY RESULT IN INJURIES OR DEATH TO EMPLOYEES OR THE PUBLIC.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA84MP001

Report Number: PAR-84-03

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: 1986-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED BY ASME TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN PORTIONS OF 49 CFR PART 192, TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELINE, MINIMUM FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS, TO ASSIST GAS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OPERATORS IN THEIR EFFORTS OF COMPLIANCE. IN ADDITION, THE COMMITTEE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OR OTHER MATTER WHICH AFFECT PART 192. THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-FIVE (35) MEMBERS IN THE MAIN BODY, EACH HAVING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS: GAS DISTRIBUTION, TRANSMISSION, GATHERING, DESIGN, RESEARCH, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING. IT IS A BROAD BASED, BALANCED COMMITTEE DRAWING ITS MEMBERSHIP FROM THE GAS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCIES, MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS, CONTRACTORS AND INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS AND RESEARCH AGENCIES. AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE COMMITTEE HAS REVIEWED THE RELATED INCIDENTS AND NTSB'S COMMENTS. THIS REVIEW HAS LED THE COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR PART 192 WHICH CAN BE USED BY THE INDUSTRY TO PREVENT THE TYPES OF INCIDENTS WHICH OCCURED. THE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM NTSB HAVE BEEN HANDLED TOGETHER SINCE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THEY DEAL WITH THE SAME PARAGRAPH WITHIN PART 192, NAMELY 192.751 PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTAL IGNITION. ATTACHED IS THE PROPOSED GUIDE MATERIAL DEVELOPED FOR 192.751 AS A RESULT OF THE NTSB RECOMMENDATIONS.

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-05-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Notation 7458: Material addressing the isolation of pipeline segments from gas under pressure has been added to the GPTC Guide. In 1986, we were informed that material had been proposed for the Guide regarding the isolation of pipelines under pressures. That information was in fact incorporated, and staff believes that Safety Recommendation P-84-36 should 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-84-36.

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1987-01-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence