{"operation":"document","citation":"P-87-038","title":"NTSB Safety Recommendation P-87-038","source_type":"guidance","agency":"National Transportation Safety Board","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1987-09-02","effective_on":"1987-09-02","summary":"THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY: EMPHASIZE IN COMPANY TRAINING THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING COMPANY PROCEDURES FOR MAKING AREAS NEAR GAS PIPELINE LEAKS SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC BY EVACUATION OR OTHER MEANS.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-87-038.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-87-038.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-87-038","source_url":"https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-87-038","body":"NTSB safety recommendation P-87-038.\n\nTHE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY: EMPHASIZE IN COMPANY TRAINING THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING COMPANY PROCEDURES FOR MAKING AREAS NEAR GAS PIPELINE LEAKS SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC BY EVACUATION OR OTHER MEANS.\n\nPriority: CLASS II\n\nOverall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action\n\nIssued Date: 1987-09-02\n\nAdopted Date: 1987-08-17\n\nOverall Date Closed: 1988-09-29\n\nSynopsis: 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.\"\n\nProbable Cause: None\n\nKeywords: Evacuation, Training and Education\n\nNtsbnumber: DCA86FP011\n\nReport Number: PAR-87-01-SUM\n\nAddressee Name: Northern Illinois Gas Company\n\nAddressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action\n\nAddressee Date Closed: 1988-09-29\n\nAddressee Acronym: Nicor\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1988-01-04\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence\n\nCommunication Contents: NI-GAS BELIEVES THE RESPONSE OF ITS PERSONNEL TO THIS EMERGENCY CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT ITS COMPANY TRAINING WAS EFFECTIVE.\n\nAddressee Acronym: Nicor\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1988-08-05\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence\n\nCommunication 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.\n\nAddressee Acronym: Nicor\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1988-09-29\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence\n\nAddressee Acronym: Nicor\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1988-03-21\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence","truncated":false,"body_characters":3662}