NTSB Safety Recommendation P-95-026

NTSB safety recommendation P-95-026.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ST. PAUL DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS: DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT WRITTEN PROCEDURES THAT SPECIFY HOW EMPLOYEES CAN COMPLY MINNESOTA ONE-CALL LAWS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1995-05-10

Adopted Date: 1995-04-18

Overall Date Closed: 2000-09-08

Synopsis: ABOUT 8:30 A.M. ON 7/22/93, A CITY OF ST. PAUL DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS BACKHOE HOOKED & PULLED APART A NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY HIGH-PRESSURE GAS SERVICE LINE. THE 1-INCH PLASTIC LINE PULLED APART APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET FROM WHERE THE BACKHOE HOOKED THE LINE & JUST OUTSIDE AN ELBOW THAT WAS WITHIN 1 FOOT OF THE STONE FOUNDATION WALL OF A BUILDING. A SIDEWALK EXTENDED FROM THE STREET TO THE FOUNDATION WALL & HINDERED THE GAS FROM RISING. HOWEVER, THE FOUNDATION WALL HAD MANY HOLES & LOOSE, PERMEABLE MORTAR, ENABLING NATURAL GAS TO FLOW QUICKLY INTO THE BUILDING, WHICH CONTAINED THREE GROUND-FLOOR BUSINESSES & EIGHT UPSTAIR RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS. AN EXPLOSION & NATURAL GAS-FUELED FIRE RESULTED ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER THE BACKHOE HOOKED THE SERVICE LINE. THE EXPLOSION FORCE CAUSED PART OF THE BUILDING TO LAND ON & FLATTEN AN AUTOMOBILE TRAVELING SOUTHWEST ON EAST THIRD STREET, & THE DRIVER DIED INSTANTLY. THE EXPLOSION & ENSUING FIRE ALSO KILLED AN APARTMENT OCCUPANT & A PERSON OUTSIDE THE BUILDING & INJURED 12 PEOPLE.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA93MP011

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: State of Minnesota, City of St. Paul, Department of Public Works

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2000-09-08

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1999-11-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NTSB BY FAX REQUESTED AN UPDATE ON RECOMMENDATIONS P-95-26 AND -27.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2000-06-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ON 3/3/00, THE SAFETY BOARD SENT A LETTER REQUESTING A RESPONSE ON ANY ACTION TAKEN TO COMPLY WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. TO DATE, THE SAFETY BOARD HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THE SAINT PAUL DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS. ACCORDINGLY, P-95-26 AND -27 ARE CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--UNACCEPTABLE ACTION--NO RESPONSE RECEIVED."

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2000-09-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD IS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE CITY OF ST. PAUL REQUIRES ALL OF ITS EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES WHENEVER ENGAGING IN EXCAVATION WORK OR WORK THAT MAY AFFECT ANY UNDERGROUND UTILITIES. THE PROCESS DESCRIBED IN YOUR LETTER AND PARTICULARLY THE STIPULATION THAT THE CREW WILL NOT ENGAGE IN EXCAVATION WORK UNLESS THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED COMPLIES WITH THE INTENT OF THE RECOMMENDATION. BECAUSE THE CITY OF ST. PAUL HAS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED THE RECOMMENDED WRITTEN PROCEDURES, P-95-26 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2000-06-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 07/06/2000 3:07:02 PM MC# 2000855 IN ANSWER TO YOUR RECOMMENDATION P-95-26, WE CAN REPORT THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES FOLLOW STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES WHENEVER ENGAGING IN EXCAVATION WORK OR WORK THAT MAY AFFECT ANY UNDERGROUND UTILITIES. IF THE SUPERVISOR KNOWS THAT A WORK ASSIGNMENT WILL INVOLVE AN EXCAVATION HE/SHE NOTIFIES GOPHER STATE ONE CALL (GSOC) IN ADVANCE. ONCE THE INFORMATION IS RECEIVED FROM GSOC THE SUPERVISOR VERIFIES THAT THE AFFECTED UTILITIES ARE MARKED AND THEN SIGNS THE FORM FROM GSOC AND ATTACHES IT TO THE WORK ORDER WHEN THE ASSIGNMENT IS MADE. THE CREW WILL NOT ENGAGE IN EXCAVATION WORK UNLESS THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED. IF IT IS DETERMINED IN THE FIELD THAT A WORK ASSIGNMENT MAY INVOLVE ANY EXCAVATION OR INTRUSION INTO THE GROUND OUR EMPLOYEES INITIATE A PROCEDURE USING STANDARDIZED FORMS DESCRIBING THE EXACT LOCATION AND NATURE OF WORK. WORK IS THEN CURTAILED UNTIL GSOC HAS GIVEN CLEARANCE TO PROCEED. ONCE CLEARANCE IS GIVEN, OUR CREW MEMBERS FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES TO PROTECT THE UNDERGROUND FACILITIES DURING THEIR EXCAVATION. THE ST. PAUL DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS EXPECTS FULL ADHERENCE TO THESE STANDARDS, AND WE HAVE BEEN STRICT IN THEIR ENFORCEMENT.