NTSB Safety Recommendation P-84-041

NTSB safety recommendation P-84-041.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT COLUMBIA GAS OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC., AND THE MOUNTAINEER GAS COMPANY: ESTABLISH QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES TO ASSURE THAT ALL TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT CHANGES MADE TO ITS PIPELINE SYSTEM ARE RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE PROMPTLY TO ITS ENGINEERING AND OPERATING DEPARTMENTS. INITIATE CHECKS TO SEE THAT THESE PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1984-09-17

Adopted Date: 1984-09-17

Overall Date Closed: 1989-03-21

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

Ntsbnumber: DCA84MP002

Report Number: PAR-84-04

Addressee Name: Mountaineer Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-08-17

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: SECTIONS 5 & 6 OF PROCEDURES 626-1, "MANDATORY INVESTIGATION OF GAS FACILITIES -STREET CONSTRUCTION" HAVE BEEN REVISED TO REQUIRE THAT "IF MORE THAN 30 DAYS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE INITIAL REVIEW OF DETAILED CONSTRUCTION PLANS, A SECOND COMPARISON OF THE PLANS WILL BE MADE WITH THE LATEST EDITION OF THE OPERATION (INVENTORY) MAPS BEFORE FINAL (CONSTRUCTION) PLANS ARE DISTRIBUTED" AND THAT "THE OPERATIONS ENGINEERS COMPARE THE CONTENT OF THE NOTICE (OF UTILITY STATUS ISSUED PRIOR TO BID LETTING) VERY CAREFULLY WITH THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND PROTECTIVE PROGRAM FOR THE JOB AND IF ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS ARE FOUND" IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE HIGH WAY DEPT. BY TELEPHONE. GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR COORDINATION WITH THE HIGHWAY DEPT. AND ITS CONTRACTORS HAS BEEN SHIFTED FROM THE COLUMBUS GENERAL OFFICE TO THE FIELD ENGINEERS. PROCEDURES 623-7, "WORK ORDER COMPLETION REPORTS" HAS BEEN REVISED TO REQUIRE A "MASTER SET" OF OPERATION MAPS AT EACH LOCATION WHICH SHALL BE UPDATED AS SOON AS ANY WORK ORDER COMPLETION REPORT IS PROCESSED. OTHER COPIES OF OPERATION (INVENTORY) MAPS IN THE LOCATION SHALL NOT BE USED UNTIL VERIFIED AGAINST THE "MASTER SET" AS A CHECK TO THE THAT THESE PROCEDURES ARE BEING FOLLOWED, THE INTERNAL AUDITING DEPARTMENT IS CHECKING COMPLETED WORK ORDERS TO THE LOCAL OPERATING MAPS TO DETERMINE THAT THE NECESSARY INFORMATION IS SHOWN IN THE MAPS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-02-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence