NTSB Safety Recommendation P-84-042

NTSB safety recommendation P-84-042.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL L. P. GAS ASSOCIATION, AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GAS ASSOCIATION: NOTIFY ITS MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT IN SOUTH CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, ON OCTOBER 17, 1983, AND URGE THEM TO REVIEW THEIR PROCEDURES FOR MAINTAINING CURRENT, ACCURATE SYSTEM MAPS TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF RAPID SHUTDOWN OF FAILED GAS FACILITIES, AND TO EMPHASIZE THEIR PROCEDURES FOR GAS LEAKAGE IN TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR THEIR PERSONNEL.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1984-09-17

Adopted Date: 1984-09-17

Overall Date Closed: 1989-07-14

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: Training and Education, Records

Ntsbnumber: DCA84MP002

Report Number: PAR-84-04

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1985-02-04

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1985-02-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AGA LTR: MIGRATION CHARACTERISTICS OF GAS DURING HIGH PRESSURE LEAKS SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED DURING TRAINING OF APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL. ALSO, THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE MAPS AND/OR RECORDS IS ONCE MORE HIGHLIGHTED BY THIS INCIDENT.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1985-05-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-04-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Name: American Public Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1989-04-24

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-04-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: IN YOUR APRIL 11, 1989 LETTER TO MR. VERRIPS, YOU ASKED WHAT ACTION THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GAS ASSOCIATION HAS TAKEN CONCERNING THE NTSB SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-84-42. FOR YOUR INFORMATION I HAVE ENCLOSED A MEMO WHICH WAS SENT TO ALL PUBLICLY OWNED NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS BY THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ARIE M. VERRIPS ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1984. IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ACTION BY APGA, PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL.

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-04-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-07-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Name: National L.P. Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1989-05-19

Addressee Acronym: NPGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-05-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WE ARE IN RESPONSE OF YOUR LETTER OF 4/10/89, TRANSMITTING A COPY OF THE BOARD'S SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-84-42 AND REQUESTING A RESPONSE. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO VERIFY WHETHER WE EVER RECEIVED THIS RECOMMENDATION. CERTAINLY, WE HAVE NO RECORD OF A RESPONSE AND FOR THIS WE OFFER OUR APOLOGIES. WE HAVE REVIEWED THE INCIDENT REPORT AND THE ACCOMPANYING LETTER AND AGREE WITH THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDA TION. A NEWS ITEM ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND THE BOARD'S COMMENTS REGARDING PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO PRECLUDE ITS RECURRENCE HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE MAY 26 ISSUE OF NPGA REPORTS, OUR WEEKLY MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER. A COPY OF THE TEXT OF THIS ARTICLE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR INFORMATION. WE SUPPORT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BOARD AND ARE PLEASED THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BE OF ASSISTANCE IN REDUCING THE INCIDENCE AND CONSEQUENCES OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES.

Addressee Acronym: NPGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-04-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: NPGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-07-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence