NTSB Safety Recommendation P-93-001

NTSB safety recommendation P-93-001.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PEOPLE GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY: TRAIN GAS OPERATIONS SECTION PERSONNEL AND INSTITUTE RECURRENT TRAINING IN RECOGNIZING AND CORRECTLY RESPONDING TO ABNORMAL SITUATIONS, INCLUDING OVER-PRESSURED PIPELINES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1993-01-26

Adopted Date: 1993-01-05

Overall Date Closed: 1993-11-12

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 17, 1992, WHILE A CREW FROM PEOPLES GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY (PEOPLES) WAS DOING ROUTINE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE WORK ON A MONITOR REGULATOR AT ONE OF ITS REGULATOR STATIONS, HIGH-PRESSURE GAS ENTERED A LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM. THE GAS--UNDER AS MUCH AS 10 PSIG OF PRESSURE--ESCAPED THROUGH GAS APPLIANCES INTO HOMES AND OTHER BUILDINGS, WHERE IT WAS IGNITED BY SEVERAL UNIDENTIFIED SOURCES. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION AND FIRES KILLED 4 PEOPLE, INJURED 4, AND DAMAGED 14 HOUSES AND 3 COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.

Probable Cause: Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company failure to adequately train its gas operations section employees

Keywords: Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA92MP004

Report Number: PAR-93-01-SUM

Addressee Name: Peoples Gas

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1993-11-12

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-02-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE CLASSROOM TRAINING REGARDING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL (IN THE GAS OPERATIONS SECTION AND THE DISTRIBUTION, SERVICE AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS) BEGAN IN JANUARY 1993. REFRESHER TRAINING OF ALL FILED PERSONNEL IN THE GAS OPERATIONS SECTION WILL BEGIN EARLY THIS YEAR. AFTER COMPLETING OUR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF THE NTSB'S REPORT, WE WILL DETERMINE WHETHER ANY FURTHER CHANGES IN TRAINING ARE WARRANTED.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-09-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: JOB PROGRESSIONS TRAINING AND TESTING HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED AS A PREREQUISITE FOR PROMOTION FROM JUNIOR VAULT INSPECTOR TO VAULT MECHANIC. BETWEEN MARCH AND MAY 1993, ALL JUNIIOR VAULT INSPECTORS, VAULT MECHANICS, VAULT INSPECTORS AND SUPERVISORS IN GOS ATTENDED FORMAL REFRESHER COURSES. THIS TRAINING INCLUDED INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AND POTENTIAL EMERGENCIES.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-04-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT CLASSROOM TRAINING CONCERNING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN THE GAS OPERATIONS SECTION BEGAN IN JANUARY 1993, & THAT REFRESHER TRAINING OF ALL FIELD PERSONNEL IN THE GAS OPERATIONS SECTION WILL BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR. A FURTHER RESPONSE ABOUT THIS RECOMMENDATION, FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF ALL INITIAL REFRESHER TRAINING BY GAS OPERATIONS SECTION PERSONNEL, WOULD BE APPRECIATED. IN THE MEANTIME, RECOMMENDATION P-93-1 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-11-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT PEOPLES HAS INSTITUTED SEVERAL KEY JOB PROGRESSION AND TESTING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO EMERENCIES AND POTENTIAL EMERGENCIES. FURTHERMORE, PEOPLES WILL REQUIRE NEW SUPERVISORS IN THE GAS OPERATIONS SECTION TO BE TRAINED AND TESTED BEFORE BEING GIVEN FIELD ASSIGNMENTS. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, RECOMMENDATION P-93-1 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."