NTSB Safety Recommendation P-94-001

NTSB safety recommendation P-94-001.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY: TRAIN ALL GAS OPERATIONS CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS FOR EMERGENCIES INVOLVING STRUCK PIPELINES; TRAINING SHOULD STRESS IMMEDIATELY REPORTING NATURAL GAS PIPELINE STRIKES TO NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS'S EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1994-04-22

Adopted Date: 1994-04-15

Overall Date Closed: 1995-08-01

Synopsis: ABOUT 11:35 A.M. ON JUNE 9, 1993, A CINDERBLOCK DUPLEX AT 634 CLIFFWOOD AVENUE IN CLIFFWOOD BEACH, NEW JERSEY, EXPLODED AS A NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY (NJNG) CONTRACTOR WAS TRENCHING IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. THE EXPLOSION KILLED 3 RESIDENTS OF THE DUPLEX AND SERIOUSLY INJURED 3 OTHERS.

Probable Cause: None

Keywords: Excavation,Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA93FP008

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: New Jersey Natural Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-08-01

Addressee Acronym: NJNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-08-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE NJNG NOW REQUIRES ALL CONTRACTORS WORKING ON ITS PIPELINE SYSTEM TO BE TRAINED USING THE COMPANY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING PROGRAM, WHICH EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING IMMEDIATELY TO THE NJNG ANY DAMAGE, LEAK, OR UNSAFE CONDITION. THE PROGRAM IS CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF P-94-1, WHICH HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: NJNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-06-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: BY JANUARY 1994, ALL CONTRACTORS WORKING ON NJNG'S PIPELINE SYSTEM WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING PROGRAM APPROVED BY NJNG, PRIOR TO BIDDING ON ANY PROJECT. THESE PROGRAMS MUST FOLLOW AN OUTLINE DEVELOPED BY NJNG WHICH EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING ANY DAMAGE, LEAK OR UNSAFE CONDITION TO OUR EMERGENCY NUMBER, 1-800-GAS-LEAK. THE CONTRACTORS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN TRAINING RECORDS WHICH ARE RANDOMLY AUDITED BY NJNG.