NTSB Safety Recommendation P-93-005

NTSB safety recommendation P-93-005.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PEOPLE GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY: DISTRIBUTE TO CUSTOMERS THE REVISED NATURAL GAS SAFETY GUIDELINES, ENCOURAGE THEM TO READ AND RETAIN IT, AND PERIODICALLY REMIND THEM OF ITS AVAILABILITY.

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: WHETHER OR NOT THE BOOKLET IS REVISED, THE COMPANY WILL DISTRIBUTE IT TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS, ENCOURAGE THEM TO READ IT, AND PERIODICALLY REMIND THEM OF ITS AVAILABILITY.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-09-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE ENGLISH VERSION OF THE REVISED BOOKLET WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO EACH CUSTOMER OF RECORD IN EARLY OCTOBER 1993. AT THAT TIME, CUSTOMERS WILL BE INFORMED THAT THE BOOKLET WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND POLISH AS WELL. PERIIODICALLY, THE COMPANY WILL SEND OUT A NOTICE, IN THE BILL INSERT, INFORMING CUSTOMERS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE BOOKLET AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO READ AND RETAIN THE ONE THEY HAVE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-04-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD IS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT PEOPLES WILL DISTRIBUTE ITS NATURAL GAS SAFETY GUIDELINES TO ITS CUSTOMERS, ENCOURAGE THEM TO READ IT, & PERIODICALLY REMIND THEM OF ITS AVAILABILITY. PENDING ACTUAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE BOOKLET, RECOMMENDATION P-93-5 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 IS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT PEOPLES HAS IMPLEMENTED RECOMMENDATION P-93-5. CONSEQUENTLY, IT HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION." WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO PIPELINE SAFETY.