Guidanceguidance
P-84-037
NTSB Safety Recommendation P-84-037
Current as of 1984-09-17 Government source
RegulusPipeline researchRegulusPipeline researchP-84-037
NTSB safety recommendation P-84-037.
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT COLUMBIA GAS OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC., AND THE MOUNTAINEER GAS COMPANY: EMPHASIZE IN ITS TRAINING OF OPERATING PERSONNEL THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING COMPANY GAS LEAK EMERGENCY PROCEDURES INVOLVING CHECKING FOR GAS IN AND ADJACENT TO BUILDINGS, VENTILATING BUILDINGS, AND EVACUATING PERSONS FROM BUILDINGS; AND TEST THE OPERATING PERSONNEL IN THESE PROCEDURES. (URGENT)
Priority: CLASS I
Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Issued Date: 1984-09-17
Adopted Date: 1984-09-17
Overall Date Closed: 1989-01-12
Synopsis: AT 11:15 A.M. E.D.T., ON OCTOBER 17, 1983, WHILE EXCAVATING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A LARGE DIAMETER, CONCRETE, STORM DRAIN PIPE, A BACKHOE OPERATOR SNAGGED AND PUNCTURED A 3-INCH STEEL GAS LINE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF STATE ROUTE 214, THEREBY FRACTURING A 3-INCH CAST IRON VALVE CONNECTING THE 3-INCH GAS LINE TO THE 4-INCH GAS LINE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF STATE ROUTE 214 IN SOUTH CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA. GAS AT 45 PSIG BEGAN TO ESCAPE FROM BOTH BREAKS AND, WHILE IT SEEMED TO BE VENTING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, IT WAS ALSO MIGRATING BELOW GROUND. THE CONTRACTOR IMMEDIATELY NOTI FIED COLUMBIA GAS OF WEST VIRGINIA INC., AND GAS COMPANY PERSONNEL WERE DISPATCHED TO THE SITE TO RESPOND TO THE EMERGENCY. AT 1:52 P.M., THE FOODLAND SUPERMARKET, LOCATED 35 FEET FROM THE FRACTURED VALVE, EXPLODED, AND THEN BURNED. EIGHTEEN PERSONS WHO WERE INSIDE THE STORE AND 1 GAS COMPANY EMPLOYEE WHO WAS OUTSIDE THE BUILDING WERE INJURED; THE SUPERMARKET AND AN ADJACENT COMMERCIAL BUILDING WERE DESTROYED.
Probable Cause: None
Keywords: Evacuation,Training and Education
Ntsbnumber: DCA84MP002
Report Number: PAR-84-04
Addressee Name: Mountaineer Gas Company
Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Addressee Date Closed: 1989-01-12
Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry
Communication Date: 1989-01-12
Communication Type: Official Correspondence
Communication Contents: ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IMPLEMENTED PRIOR TO THE END OF 1985. ENCLOSED ARE EXCERPTS FROM MOUNTAINEER'S PROCEDURES AND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL WHICH MAKE REFERENCE TO THE SAFETY BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING DENOTING INACCESSIBLE GATE VALVES ON MAPS WAS THE LAST ONE COMPLETED DUE TO THE TIME INVOLVED REVIEWING EACH OPERATING MAP AND ASSOCIATED RECORDS. THE SAFETY BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING MISSING PIPELINE MARKERS WAS ALSO COMPLETED DURING 1985. PIPELINE MARKERS ARE CONTINUALLY BEING REPLACED AS THEY ARE REPORTED MISSING.
Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry
Communication Date: 1989-03-21
Communication Type: Official Correspondence
Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry
Communication Date: 1988-10-21
Communication Type: Official Correspondence
Addressee Name: NiSource, Inc. (formerly Columbia Gas)
Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Addressee Date Closed: 1986-06-25
Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry
Communication Date: 1986-06-25
Communication Type: Official Correspondence
Communication Contents: CDC HAS INSTITUTED AN "UNSAFE SITUATION TRAINING" PROGRAM THAT IS BEING GIVEN INITIALLY TO ALL PLANT AND SERVICE EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS DISPATCHING AND OTHER CONTACT PERSONNEL, WITH ANNUAL REFRESHER TRAINING TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL. THE PERFORMANCE OF PERSONNEL IS EVALUATED THROUGH THE PARTICIPATION OF EACH INDIVIDUAL IN "INCIDENT SIMULATION." NTSB PIPELINE ACCIDENT REPORTS ARE BEING USED AS THE BASIS FOR THESE SIMULATIONS.
Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry
Communication Date: 1987-02-02
Communication Type: Official Correspondence
This material provides agency context. It does not replace binding regulatory text, and its legal effect depends on the underlying authority and facts.