NTSB Safety Recommendation P-93-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-93-006.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GAS ASSOCIATION: INFORM MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THEM TO (1) REVIEW AND IMPROVE THEIR EMPLOYEE GUIDANCE AND TRAINING PROGRAMS ON RECOGNIZING AND RESPONDING TO ABNORMAL SITUATIONS, (2) ASSESS THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THEIR PROCEDURES FOR USING BYPASS VALVES TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE CONTROL DURING REGULATOR INSPECTIONS, AND (3) ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT RECOGNIZING AND RESPONDING TO POTENTIAL GAS EMERGENCIES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1993-01-26

Adopted Date: 1993-01-05

Overall Date Closed: 1993-06-16

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 I 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, Public Education (Pipeline)

Ntsbnumber: DCA92MP004

Report Number: PAR-93-01

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1993-03-23

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1993-03-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE LETTER WE RECENTLY MAILED TO AGA MEMBER COMPANIES TRANSMITTING YOUR RECOMMENDATION AND URGING OUR MEMBERS TO TAKE THE ACTIONS THAT YOU RECOMMEND.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1993-05-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT AGA MEMBER COMPANIES WERE NOTIFIED OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT BY LETTER DATED 3/23/93, URGING COMPLIANCE WITH THE INTENT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION. BASED ON THIS INFO, P-93-6 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Name: American Public Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1993-04-20

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1993-04-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: A COPY OF THE LETTER AND ATTACHMENT THAT WERE SENT TO ALL NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS (964) IN ACCORDANCE WITH NTSB RECOMMENDATION P-93-6 OF JANUARY 26, 1993.

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1993-06-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT APGA MEMBER COMPANIES WERE NOTIFIED OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT BY YOUR LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 1993, AND THEY WERE URGED TO COMPLY WITH THE INTENT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, RECOMMENDAITON P-93-6 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."