NTSB Safety Recommendation P-95-027

NTSB safety recommendation P-95-027.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ST. PAUL DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS: TRAIN ALL HEAVY- & MECHANIZED-EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, CREW LEADERS, & CREWMEMBERS IN PROCEDURES TO PROTECT MARKED UNDERGROUND PIPELINES FROM DAMAGE DURING EXCAVATION.

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 HAS INITIATED AN AGGRESSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ALL ITS EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, SUPERVISORS, CREW LEADERS, AND CREW MEMBERS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH EXCAVATION WORK, AND THAT THIS INSTRUCTION PROVIDES THOROUGH TRAINING IN PROCEDURES TO PROTECT UNDERGROUND PIPELINES AND UTILITIES. BECAUSE THE CITY OF ST. PAUL HAS INSTITUTED THE RECOMMENDED PROGRAM, P-95-27 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 SINCE YOUR ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION OF 5/10/95, WE HAVE INITIATED AN AGGRESSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR OUR EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, SUPERVISORS, CREW LEADERS AND CREW MEMBERS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH EXCAVATION WORK. THIS INSTRUCTION PROVIDES THOROUGH TRAINING IN PROCEDURES TO PROTECT UNDERGROUND PIPELINES AND UTILITIES. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE CLASSES HIGHLIGHT PROPER SHORING TECHNIQUES, UTILITY NOTIFICATION, EXCAVATIONS AROUND UTILITIES, AND SOIL CLASSIFICATION. SOME OF OUR CLASSES ARE SPONSORED BY GOPHER STATE ONE CALL. OTHER CLASSES IN THE YEARS SINCE YOUR ORIGINAL INQUIRY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY MINNESOTA OSHA OR BY A QUALIFIED INSTRUCTOR WHO WORKS FOR THE MINNESOTA DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION AND HAS HAD EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH EXCAVATION WORK. WE HAVE HAD THESE TRAINING SESSIONS IN 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 AND 2000.