NTSB Safety Recommendation P-96-008

NTSB safety recommendation P-96-008.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA: REQUIRE ANY PERSON OR ENTITY THAT EXCAVATES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE'S EXCAVATION DAMAGE- PREVENTION PROGRAM.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1996-03-06

Adopted Date: 1996-02-26

Overall Date Closed: 2001-01-12

Synopsis: ABOUT 6:45 P.M. ON 6/9/94, A 2-INCH-DIAMETER STEEL GAS SERVICE LINE THAT HAD BEEN EXPOSED DURING EXCAVATION SEPARATED AT A COMPRESSION COUPLING ABOUT 5 FEET FROM THE NORTH WALL OF JOHN T. GROSS TOWERS, AN EIGHT-STORY RETIREMENT HOME OPERATED BY THE ALLENTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY AT ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. THE FAILED UGI UTILITIES, INC,. (UGI) SERVICE LINE RELEASED NATAURAL GAS AT 55 PSIG PRESSURE, & THE ESCAPING GAS FLOWED UNDERGROUND TO GROSS TOWERS. THE GAS PASSED THROUGH OPENINGS IN THE BUILDING FOUNDATION, ENTERED THE MECHANICAL ROOM THROUGH FLOOR VENTS, & MIGRATED TO OTHER BUILDING FLOORS.

Probable Cause: The failure of the management of Environmental Preservation Associates, Inc. (EPAI) to ensure, through project oversight, compliance with its own excavation requirements and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) excavation requirements.

Ntsbnumber: DCA94MP003

Report Number: PAR-96-01

Addressee Name: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-01-12

Addressee Acronym: PA

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 2000-08-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 09/05/2000 8:01:54 AM MC# 2001113 THE PENNSYLVANIA ACT 287 OF 1974 AS AMENDED BY ACT 187 OF 1996 TITLED UNDERGROUND UTILITY LINE PROTECTION ACT APPLIES TO NEARLY ALL EXCAVATORS BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE SOFT EXCAVATION TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS VACUUM, HIGH PRESSURE AIR OR WATER, TILLING OF SOIL FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES TO A DEPTH OF 18 INCHES, OPERATIONS NECESSARY OR INCIDENTAL TO THE PURPOSE OF FINDING OR EXTRACTING NATURAL RESOURCES, POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS PERFORMING MINOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE UP TO A DEPTH OF LESS THEN 18 INCHES WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY OF ROADS OR EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION PERFORMING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT WORK UP TO A DEPTH OF TWENTY-FOUR INCHES BENEATH THE EXISTING SURFACE WITHIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF A STATE HIGHWAY.

Addressee Acronym: PA

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1996-05-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: PA

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 2001-01-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT PENNSYLVANIA ACT 287 OF 1974, AS AMENDED BY ACT 187 OF 1996, THE UNDERGROUND UTILITY LINE PROTECTION ACT, APPLIES TO NEARLY ALL EXCAVATORS. ALTHOUGH SOME EXEMPTIONS EXIST FOR SOFT-EXCAVATION FARMING, MINING, AND ROAD-MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, SINCE PENNSYLVANIA HAS ENACTED REGULATIONS THAT CLOSELY COMPLY WITH THE RECOMMENDATION, P-96-8 IS CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: PA

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 2000-06-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE TO P-96-8, -9 AND -10. THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING WHAT ACTION YOUR STATE HAS TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.