NTSB Safety Recommendation P-87-033

NTSB safety recommendation P-87-033.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE LONE STAR GAS COMPANY: REVISE PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO GRADE 1 LEAKS TO SPECIFY WHEN AND WHO SHOULD ALERT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1987-09-24

Adopted Date: 1987-08-04

Overall Date Closed: 1988-03-21

Synopsis: ON MARCH 12, 1986, A CONTRACTOR OPERATING A BACKHOE IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS, SNAGGED, LIFTED, AND PUNCTURED A LONE STAR GAS COMPANY NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINE AT 9:15 A.M. THE GAS SERVICE LINE SUPPLIED GAS TO AN UNOCCUPIED BUILDING. GAS UNDER 22 PSI PRESSURE ESCAPED INTO THE AIR AND ALSO LEAKED AT A POINT 18 FEET UNDER THE BUILDING WHERE THE SERVICE LINE HAD ALSO BEEN PULLED APART AT A GIRTH WELD. THE CONTRACTOR NOTIFIED THE LONE STAR GAS COMPANY OF THE LINE PUNCTURE AND A GAS COMPANY CREW AND SUPERVISOR WERE DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE. WHILE THE GAS COMPANY CREW WAS ATTEMPTING TO SHUT OFF THE FLOW OF GAS TO THE PUNCTURED PIPE, THE UNOCCUPIED BUILDING EXPLODED AND BURNED AT 10:09 A.M. TWENTY-TWO PERSONS WERE INJURED, THE UNOCCUPIED BUILDING WAS DESTROYED, AND 40 OTHER BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED. FIFTY-SEVEN AUTOMOBILES STORED INSIDE THE DESTROYED BUILDING WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA86FP010

Report Number: PAR-87-03

Addressee Name: Lone Star Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-03-21

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-11-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: "WHILE LONE STAR GAS COMPANY HAS A CONTINUOUS PROGRAM OF REVIEWING ITS PROCEDURES TO PROMOTE SAFETY AND WHILE IT HAS ALTERED PROCEDURES OR ADDED PROGRAMS TO PREVENT EXCAVATION ACCIDENTS SINCE THE DATE OF THE SUBJECT ACCIDENT, NONE OF THESE ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AS A DIRECT OR INDIRECT RESULT OF THE NTSB INVESTIGATION." THE "RESPONSE" GOES ON TO ATTACK THE REPORT AND TO STATE THAT LONE STAR IS UNABLE "...TO ATTACH ANY VALUE TO YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS...", CLAIMING THAT THE REPORT "...IS REPLETE WITH INACCURATE DATA, FALSE ASSUMPTIONS AND SPECIOUS LOGIC..." AND THAT "...ANY SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN RESPONSE TO IT ARE DEVOID OF CREDIBILITY."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-03-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence