NTSB Safety Recommendation P-93-004

NTSB safety recommendation P-93-004.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PEOPLE GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY: REVISE NATURAL GAS SAFETY GUIDELINES SO THAT IT PROVIDES CONSISTENT, CLEAR CONCISE INFORMATION TO THE CUSTOMERS ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND CORRECTLY RESPOND TO POTENTIAL GAS HAZARDS.

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

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: WE WANT TO MAKE THE BOOKLET AS USEFUL AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE REVIEWING IT IN LIGHT OF THE NTSB'S REPORT AND WILL DETEMINE WHETHER ANY REVISIONS ARE APPROPRIATE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-09-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE REVISED MANUAL WILL INCLUDE AN INSTRUCTION, PREVIOUSLY GIVEN ORALLY, THAT VAULT MECHANICS, VAULT INSPECTORS AND SUPERVISORS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SHUT DOWN VALVES OR REGULATORS TO ELIMINATE AN UNSAFE CONDITION. THE EMERGENCY OPERATING PLAN HAS BEEN REVISED. THE PLAN SETS FORTH RESPONSE PROCEDURES FOR EMERGENCIES AND POTENTIAL EMERGENCIES. THE NATURAL GAS SAFETY GUIDELINES BOOKLET HAS BEEN REVISED. THE REVISED BOOKLET WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THREE LANGUAGES.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-04-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT PEOPLES WILL REVIEW ITS EMERGENCY OPERATING PLAN & ITS NATURAL GAS SAFETY GUIDELINES TO DETERMINE IF REVISIONS ARE APPROPRIATE. PENDING A FURTHER RESPONSE, RECOMMENDATIONS P-93-3 & -4 WILL BE CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-11-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE GAS OPERATIONS TRAINING MANUAL, EMERGENCY OPERATING PLAN, AND NATURAL GAS SAFETY GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN REVISED AS REQUESTED. WE WOULD APPREICATE RECEIVING A COPY OF THE REVISED DOCUMENTS. RECOMMENDATIONS P-93-3 AND-4 HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."