NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-026

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-026.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY: INSTALL PRESSURE TRANSMISSION OR ALARM EQUIPMENT AT STRATEGIC PRESSURE-RECORDING POINTS TO ALERT DISPATCHERS PROMPTLY TO EMERGENCY CONDITIONS AS EVIDENCED BY ABNORMAL PRESSURES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-11-27

Adopted Date: 1987-01-01

Overall Date Closed: 1995-03-06

Synopsis: AT 2:40 A.M., ON FEBRUARY 22, 1985, A POLICE PATROLMAN ON ROUTINE PATROL SMELLED STRONG NATURAL GAS ODORS AS HE CROSSED RAILROAD TRACKS WHILE HEADING SOUTH ON NORTH SIXTH STREET IN SHARPSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. HE RADIOED THIS INFORMATION TO THE SHARPSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT DISPATCHER AT 2:42 A.M.; THE DISPATCHER RELAYED THE INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY (GAS COMPANY) BY TELEPHONE AT 2:43 A.M., AND A GAS SERVICEMAN WAS ORDERED TO THE SCENE. AT 3:15 A.M., BEFORE THE SERVICEMAN ARRIVED AT THE SITE OF THE REPORTED LEAK, THE SHARPSVILLE INN AND A CONNECTING BUILDING EXPLODED AND BURNED, KILLING TWO PERSONS. FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVING ONSCENE MOMENTS LATER ENCOUNTERED A SECOND, SMALLER EXPLOSION WHICH INJURED ONE FIREFIGHTER. GAS COMPANY PERSONNEL SHUT OFF THE GAS TO THE LEAK SITE AT 4:15 A.M.

Ntsbnumber: DCA85AP009

Report Number: PAR-85-02

Addressee Name: National Fuel Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-03-06

Addressee Acronym: NFG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-03-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE COMPANY HAS INSTALLED TELEMETERING POINTS & DIALER ALARMS. AS A RESULT OF THESE ACTIONS, THE SAFETY BOARD HAS CLASSIFIED RECOMMENDATIONS P-85-23 THROUGH -26 "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: NFG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-02-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NATIONAL FUEL GAS DISTRIBUTION CORP. LTR: NATIONAL FUEL CURRENTLY HAS MANY STRATEGIC PRESSURE RECORDING POINTS TELE METERED TO A CENTRAL LOCATION THAT IS MONITORED 24 HOURS A DAY. A REVIEW IS NOW BEING MADE BY THE ENGINEERING AND OPERATING DEPARTMENTS AS TO THE LOCATION OF OTHER DATA POINTS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED.

Addressee Acronym: NFG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1994-10-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WITH RESPECT TO RECOMMENDATION P-85-26, THERE ARE CURRENTLY 39 TELEMETERING POINTS & 12 DIALER ALARMS OPERATING AT STRATEGIC POINTS WITHIN OUR PENNSYLVANIA SYSTEM. ELEVEN OF THESE HAVE BEEN INSTALLED SINCE 1986. OUR GAS SYSTEM IS PERIODICALLY REVIEWED BY OUR GAS CONTROL & ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, & RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL TELEMETRIC OR ALARM LOCATIONS AS THEY ARE DEEMED NECESSARY.

Addressee Acronym: NFG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-06-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence