NTSB Safety Recommendation P-92-020

NTSB safety recommendation P-92-020.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NORTH BAY CONSTRUCTION, INC: REQUIRE THAT ITS EMPLOYEES NOTIFY THE PIPELINE OPERATOR ANYTIME MECHANIZED EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT CONTACTS A GAS PIPELINE WHETHER OR NOT A RESULTING GAS LEAK IS APPARENT.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1992-05-21

Adopted Date: 1992-05-05

Overall Date Closed: 2002-08-09

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: North Bay Construction, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-08-09

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-06-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 06/17/2002 4:21:19 PM MC# 2020604 re: P-92-19, once an existing gas pipeline has been located by the gas utility company, NBC requires its field personnel to expose all gas pipelines with non-mechanized means. This is done by hand excavation and/or air entrained vacuum methods. Re P-92-20: Should NBC forces encounter and/or come in contact with a gas pipeline while using a mechanized type of equipment, NBC personnel are required to immediately notify the gas utility company of the contact made, whether or not such contact has resulted in a gas leak.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-05-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On November 20, 1992, the Safety Board acknowledged the September 3, 1992, letter from your attorney, Mr. Scott C. Finch, regarding North Bay Construction's willingness to discuss the accident. To date, we have received no further correspondence on this issue, nor has there been a response from North Bay Construction regarding Safety Recommendations P-92-19 or -20. Consequently, they remain classified "Open--Await Response." The Safety Board is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the traveling 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. We would appreciate receiving an update from you regarding actions taken or planned to implement these recommendations. Please address your response to Ms. Marion C. Blakey, Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, and refer to the recommendations by number in your response.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-08-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Mr. Geney reports that NBC procedures now require that once an existing gas pipeline has been located by the gas utility company, NBC field personnel must uncover all gas pipelines by non-mechanized methods such as hand excavation or air-entrained vacuum. Further, should NBC employees encounter a gas pipeline while using a mechanized type of equipment, they must immediately notify the gas utility company, whether or not such contact resulted in a gas leak. Because NBC has taken the recommended action, Safety Recommendations P-92-19 and -20 are classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1992-09-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence