NTSB Safety Recommendation P-92-017

NTSB safety recommendation P-92-017.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY: IMPLEMENT AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM TO ALERT EXCAVATORS OF THE URGENT NEED TO PROMPTLY NOTIFY PG&E OF ANY CONTACT, OR SUSPICION OF CONTACT, BY MECHANIZED EQUIPMENT OR OTHER DAMAGE TO ITS GAS PIPELINES WHETHER A LEAK IS OR IS NOT INDICATED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1992-05-21

Adopted Date: 1992-05-05

Overall Date Closed: 1995-12-12

Synopsis: ABOUT 4:26 A.M. ON DECEMBER 28, 1991, TWO EXPLOSIONS IN RAPID SUCCESSION OCCURRED IN APARTMENT NO. 3 OF A TWO-STORY, EIGHT-APARTMENT, WOOD-FRAME STRUCTURE AT 631 SPENCER STREET, SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA. FIRE AFTER THE EXPLOSIONS DESTROYED THAT APARTMENT AND THREE OTHER APARTMENTS IN THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING. TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND THREE OTHERS WERE INJURED. THE ONLY GAS APPLIANCE IN THE APARTMENT BUILDING WAS A HOT WATER HEATER IN A REAR APARTMENT. IT REMAINED UNDAMAGED BY THE EXPLOSIONS OR FIRE. NONE OF THE BUILDING RESIDENTS REPORTED SMELLING THE ODORANT THAT IS ADDED TO NATURAL GAS, BUT LATER TESTS SHOWED THAT THE ODORANT LEVEL MET FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA92FP002

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-12-12

Addressee Acronym: PG&E

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1992-11-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE PG&E HAS INITIATED SEVERAL PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE ITS EXCAVATION DAMAGE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, INCLUDING COMMUNICATION WITH EXCAVATORS BY MEANS OF NEWSLETTERS, FLIERS, & POSTERS. PENDING OUR RECEIPT OF THE RESULTS OF THESE PROGRAMS, RECOMMENDATION P-92-17 WILL BE CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: PG&E

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-12-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT PG&E HAS DEVELOPED A PROGRAM THAT TARGETS THE EXCAVATION COMMUNITY THROUGH A NUMBER OF METHODS INCLUDING ANNUAL LETTERS, SAFETY AWARENESS SEMINARS, ADVERTISEMENT FUNDING, & PROMOTION MATERIAL. BASED ON THIS INFO, P-92-17 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED 'CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: PG&E

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1992-08-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: OUR MAJOR EFFORTS WILL BE AIMED AT THE FEW CONTRACTORS WHO CONTINUE TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INSTANCES OF DAMAGE, AND TO IMPROVE GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE EXCAVATING COMMUNITY TO PREVENT THE MANY INSTANCES OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY PARTIES WHO EACH CAUSE ONLY FEW INSTANCES OF DAMAGE.

Addressee Acronym: PG&E

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-09-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ALTHOUGH PG&E ORIGINALLY INDICATED WE WOULD TAKE THIS STEP TO BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH EXCAVATORS, INSTEAD, THE COMPANY HAS CHOSEN TO USE MORE TARGETED, COST EFFECTIVE METHODS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE EXCAVATION COMMUNITY. IMPROVE GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE EXCAVATION COMMUNITY. PG&E SENDS ANNUAL LETTERS TO EXCAVATORS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED LOCATION OF PG&E FACILITIES, NOTIFYING THEM OF THEIR RESPONSIBLITY AS EXCAVATORS. IN ADDITIONS, FOR NEW REQUESTERS, PG&E SEND LETTERS &/OR PHONE CALLS TO NOTIFY THEM OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

Addressee Acronym: PG&E

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-08-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence