NTSB Safety Recommendation P-96-012

NTSB safety recommendation P-96-012.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN: REQUIRE AS AN EXACAVATION-PERMIT CONDITION THAT THE EXCAVATOR INSTRUCT HIS WORKMEN IN HOW TO HELP MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF AN EMERGENCY, HOW TO NOTIFY THE LOCAL RESPONSE AGENCIES & THE OWNER OF A DAMAGED FACILITY, & HOW TO EVACUATE ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE IN DANGER.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Issued Date: 1996-03-06

Adopted Date: 1996-02-26

Overall Date Closed: 2002-03-22

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, City of Allentown

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-03-22

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2002-03-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the public is provided the highest level of safety, and to identify creative solutions that might be shared with others. Although on April 30, 2001, the Board requested information from the City of Allentown on actions taken or planned to implement the above three recommendations, to date, the Board has not received a response from the City of Allentown. Accordingly, Safety Recommendations P-91-19, P-96-11 and -12 are classified "Closed--Unacceptable Action/No Response Received." Should the City of Allentown provide information on the implementation of these recommendations, the Board will review the information and consider reclassifying the recommendations.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2001-04-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: To date, the Safety Board has received no response from the City of Allentown to any of these recommendations, and we would appreciate being informed of what action has been taken to implement Safety Recommendations P-91-19, and P-96-11 and -12.