NTSB Safety Recommendation P-96-010

NTSB safety recommendation P-96-010.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA: REQUIRE EACH EXCAVATOR TO OUTLINE THE AREA OF THE PROPOSED EXCAVATION BEFORE ASKING THE FACILITY OPERATORS TO MARK THE LOCATIONS OF THEIR FACILITES,

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 ONLY PROVISION IN THE UNDERGROUND UTILITY LINE PROTECTION ACT RELATED TO WHITE PAINT OUTLINING MENTIONS THAT "A CONTRACTOR SHALL USE THE COLOR WHITE TO MARK A PROPOSED EXCAVATION SITE WHEN EXACT SITE INFORMATION CANNOT BE PROVIDED."

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: BECAUSE THE PENNSYLVANIA UNDERGROUND UTILITY LINE PROTECTION ACT INCLUDES A PROVISION THAT REQUIRES A CONTRACTOR TO USE THE COLOR WHITE TO MARK A PROPOSED EXCAVATION SITE WHEN EXACT SITE INFORMATION CANNOT BE PROVIDED, P-96-10 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.