NTSB Safety Recommendation P-89-007

NTSB safety recommendation P-89-007.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NORTH SHORE GAS COMPANY: COMPARE THE VALVE LOCATIONS ON ITS MAIN MAPS TO THOSE ON ITS FAULT MAPS AND OTHER APPROPRIATE RECORDS AND CORRECT ANY OMISSIONS OR ERRORS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Issued Date: 1989-10-03

Adopted Date: 1989-09-15

Overall Date Closed: 2002-12-30

Synopsis: ON AUGUST 31, 1988, A NORTH SHORE GAS COMPANY (NSG) CREW STRUCK AND RUPTURED A FITTING ON A 4-INCH PLASTIC GAS MAIN IN GREEN OAKS, ILLINOIS. WHILE THE CREW WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXCAVATE A NEARBY VALVE TO SHUT OFF THE FLOW OF GAS, THE BACKHOE STRUCK AN UNMARKED POWER CABLE. THE GAS IGNITED AND FOUR NSG EMPLOYEES WERE INJURED. ON JULY 11, 1988, DURING ITS ANNUAL INSPECTION OF EMERGENCY SHUTOFF VALVES, AN NSG CREW NOTED THAT THE VALVE BOX AND MARKER POLE FOR A 4-INCH VALVE (M4148) BESIDE BUCKLEY ROAD IN GREEN OAKS, ILLINOIS, HAD BEEN STRUCK AND NEEDED TO BE RESET. ON AUGUST 29, 1988, NSG NOTIFIED JULIE, A ONE-CALL EXCAVATION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, OF ITS INTENT TO EXCAVATE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BUCKLEY ROAD 580 FEET EAST OF ITS INTERSECTION WITH SAINT MARY'S ROAD. THE LOCAL TELEPHONE AND ELECTRIC POWER COMPANIES RESPONDED TO THE NOTIFICATION. ON AUGUST 31, 1988, A TWO PERSON NSG CREW--A DISTRIBUTION OPERATOR (DO) AND A HELPER- RECEIVED A VALVE INSPECTION FORM, WHICH ALSO SERVED AS THEIR WORK ORDER FOR REPAIRING THE VALVE BOX AND MARKER POLE. THE FORM REPORTED THE LOCATION OF THE VALVE, ITS NUMBER, WHEN IT WAS INSPECTED, A DESCRIPTION OF THE VALVE INCLUDING ITS SIZE, AND REMARKS MADE BY THE INITIAL SURVEY CREW.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA88FP015

Report Number: PAR-89-01-SUM

Addressee Name: North Shore Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-12-30

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-10-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 10/16/2002 11:09:53 AM MC# 2020864 It is difficult to determine whether this recommendation was implemented, since the recommended comparison would have been performed 12 or 13 years ago. The employees who would have performed the comparisons have retired and the two senior management employees who would have overseen the implementation of this recommendation have passed away. In any case, implementation of this recommendation would now appear to be irrelevant, in that North Shore Gas has since eliminated the use of its fault maps and relies on its main maps for identifying the valves that will isolate a fault.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1989-11-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE MAIN MAPS AND FAULT MAPS ARE PREPARED FROM THE NSG MAIN ATLAS. EACH MAP WILL BE CHECKED AND THE PROCEDURE FOR UPDATING MAPS WILL BE REVIEWED. CORRECTED MAPS WILL BE ISSUED TO ALL USERS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-09-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NSG's November 17, 1989, response indicated that the company concurred with the recommendations and was taking action as requested. Accordingly, on January 19, 1990, Safety Recommendations P-89-7 and -8 were classified "Open--Acceptable Response," pending receipt of further information from NSG that action was completed. The Safety Board is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the public is provided the highest level of safety, and to identify creative solutions that might be shared with others. That is why we monitor the implementation of all our recommendations. Although several years have passed, we would appreciate receiving information from you regarding actions taken to implement the recommendations.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-12-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Mr. Doerk reports that because the recommended comparison would have been performed 12 or 13 years ago, it is difficult to determine whether this action was taken. However, Mr. Doerk advises that implementation of this recommendation would now appear to be irrelevant, as NSG has eliminated the use of its fault maps and relies on its main maps to identify valves that will isolate a fault. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-89-7 is classified "Closed--No Longer Applicable."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1990-01-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence