NTSB Safety Recommendation P-87-035

NTSB safety recommendation P-87-035.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY: DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR AND TRAIN ITS DISPATCHERS TO INFORM CONTRACTORS AND OTHER REPORTERS OF GAS PIPELINE LEAKS, ABOUT THE PROPER ACTIONS TO TAKE TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY SUCH AS WARNING OR EVACUATING RESIDENTS OF NEARBY STRUCTURES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1987-09-02

Adopted Date: 1987-08-17

Overall Date Closed: 1988-09-29

Synopsis: A NEW WATER MAIN WAS BEING INSTALLED ALONG 14TH STREET IN CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS BY THE ALPHA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (CONTRACTOR). BEFORE THE WORK WAS BEGUN THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY MARKED THE LOCATION OF ITS SERVICE LINES AND MAINS. ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 13, 1986, WHILE EXCAVATING EAST OF THE MARKED SERVICE LINE FOR 204 14TH STREET, THE CONTRACTOR'S CREW SNAGGED A GAS SERVICE LINE WITH A BACKHOE. BECAUSE THIS GAS SERVICE LINE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET AWAY FROM THE MARK AND BECAUSE OF THE LINE'S DETERIORATED CONDITION, THE CONTRACTOR'S CREW ASSUMED CORRECTLY THAT IT WAS ABANDONED AND USED IT AS AN INDICATION THAT THEY WERE NEAR THE AREA OF THE THE ACTIVE SERVICE LINE. THE FOREMAN INSTRUCTED THE BACKHOE OPERATOR TO TAKE OFF THE "FROST" USING THE BACKHOE, IN PREPARATION FOR EXCAVATING BY HAND DIGGING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ABOUT 7:30 A.M., THE BACKHOE SNAGGED THE ACTIVE, WRAPPED, 3/4-INCH STEEL NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINE FOR 204 14TH STREET. THE LINE WAS OPERATING AT 28 PSIG AND WAS 30 INCHES BELOW THE SURFACE. ACCORDING TO THE FOREMAN, THE CREW COULD SMELL GAS BUT THEY DID NOT OBSERVE ANY BLOWING GAS AROUND THE SNAGGED SERVICE LINE. THE FOREMAN RADIOED HIS OFFICE AND REPORTED THE LEAK. AT 7:37 A.M. THE OFFICE PERSONNEL CALLED THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY (GAS COMPANY) AND INFORMED THE GAS COMPANY OF THE ACCIDENT BUT RECEIVED NO INSTRUCTIONS FROM IT. THE GAS COMPANY'S CALL RECORD SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A LINE HIT REPORTED AT ROUTE 30 (14TH STREET) AND GARDEN. THE RECORD HAD THE FOLLOWING HANDWRITTEN NOTE, "HIT LINE-DON'T KNOW IF BLOWING"; HOWEVER, THE RECORD WAS STAMPED "LEAK."

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA86FP011

Report Number: PAR-87-01-SUM

Addressee Name: Northern Illinois Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-09-29

Addressee Acronym: Nicor

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-01-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NI-GAS HAS EXISTING PROCEDURES AND DOES TRAIN ITS DISPATCHERS ON HOW TO HANDLE CALLS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT REPORT PIPELINE LEAKS. DISPATCHERS ARE TRAINED TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CALLER TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE EMERGENCY. EMERGENCY AGENCIES ARE CALLED IF NEEDED. ACTION BY THE NI-GAS DISPATCHER DEPENDS PRIMARILY UPON THE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE CALLER. SECTION III OF THE NI-GAS "EMERGENCY PLANS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS" BOOK ADDRESSES THIS POINT. ARTICLE 2.(B) STATES: "UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, RECEIVING OPERATOR WILL ADVISE CUSTOMER ON THE PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW: (1) IF STRONG GAS ODOR EXISTS, RECEIVING OPERATOR WILL INSTRUCT CUSTOMER TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EVACUATE THE BUILDING." PROPER ACTION CAN VARY FROM THE EXTREMES OF PREMISE EVACUATION TO A FIELD INVESTIGATION BY A QUALIFIED COMPANY EMPLOYEE OR EMERGENCY AGENCY. THIS SAME INFORMATION IS MAILED TO CUSTOMERS AND INCLUDED IN NEWSPAPER AND RADIO ADS. THE CALLER GIVING INFORMATION ON THE CHICAGO HEIGHTS LEAK TO THE NI-GAS PERSONNEL WAS A SECOND PARTY AND NOT THE PERSON AT THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT. THIS IMPEDED THE FLOW OF NEEDED INFORMATION AND MINIMIZED INFORMATION USED TO INITIATE FURTHER ACTION BY THE DISPATCHER. A BOOKLET, "CONTROLLING NATURAL GAS IN EMERGENCIES," IS AVAILABLE FOR HANDOUT. THE BOOKLET TELLS HOW TO HANDLE DIFFERENT KINDS OF EMERGENCIES CONCERNING NATURAL GAS. NI-GAS WILL INCLUDE, AS IT HAS IN THE PAST, THIS BOOKLET IN ANNUAL CONTRACTOR-WARNING LETTERS. THE PROPER STEPS TO TAKE ARE INCLUDED IN THE CONTENTS. NI GAS WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER TO CONDUCT TRAINING SESSIONS FOR CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL ON HOW TO HANDLE NATURAL GAS EMERGENCIES, AND WILL REVIEW CURRENT TRAINING AIDS FOR CONTRACTORS AND UPDATE IF NEEDED.

Addressee Acronym: Nicor

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-08-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS HAS SENT THREE VIDEO TAPES ON ITS TRAINING EFFORTS ON THE AREAS ADDRESSED IN THESE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE TAPES ARE TITLED: "EMERGENCY PLAN" (20 MINUTES) "THE MAN IN CONTROL" AND (12 MINUTES) "DIGGING--IT'S A RISKY BUSINESS" (17 MINUTES) "NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING TRAINING TO ITS EMPLOYEES AND PERSONNEL OF OTHER AGENCIES WITH THE INTENT OF PROTECTING THE PUBLIC DURING NATURAL GAS EMERGENCIES." IN MORE SPECIFIC RESPONSE TO P-87-35, A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S GUIDELINES FOR CUSTOMER INFORMATION CENTER FOR GAS LEAKS AND EMERGENCIES.

Addressee Acronym: Nicor

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-09-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: Nicor

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-03-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence