P-96-026 - NTSB Safety Recommendation P-96-026 | Regulus

NTSB safety recommendation P-96-026.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE GOVERNOR OF PUERTO RICO: REQUIRE THE DISSEMINATION OF INFO TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DANGER TO THEIR SAFETY WHEN THE ODOR OF GAS IS DETECTED & THE ACTIONS THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY TAKE FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY & THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1996-12-16

Adopted Date: 1996-12-16

Overall Date Closed: 1997-12-19

Synopsis: ABOUT 8:30 A.M. ON 11/21/96, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE HUMBERTO VIDAL SHOE STORE & OFFICE BUILDING AT 100 JOSE DE DIEGO CALLE IN RIO PIEDRAS, PUERTO RICO. LOCAL EMERGENCY AGENCIES RESPONDED & INITIATED SEARACH & RESCUE OPERATIONS, BY 12/5/96 30 FATALITIES HAD BEEN CONFIRMED, & 5 PEOPLE, BELIEVED TO STILL BE IN THE BUILDING RUINS, WERE MISSING. LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE SUSPENDED SEARCH EFFORTS UNTIL THE BUILDING CAN BE MADE SAFE FOR RESCUE WORKERS.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the propane gas explosion, fueled by an excavationcaused gas leak, in the basement of the Humberto Vidal, Inc., office building was the failure of San Juan Gas Company, Inc., (1) to oversee its employees’ actions to ensure timely identification and correction of unsafe conditions and strict adherence to operating practices and (2) to provide adequate training to employees. Also contributing to the explosion was (1) the failure of the Research and Special Programs Administration/Office of Pipeline Safety to oversee effectively the pipeline safety program in Puerto Rico, (2) the failure of the Puerto Rico Public Service Commission to require San Juan Gas Company, Inc., to correct identified safety deficiencies, and (3) the failure of Enron Corp. to oversee adequately the operation of San Juan Gas Company, Inc.

Ntsbnumber: DCA97MP004

Report Number: PAR-97-01

Addressee Name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1997-12-19

Addressee Acronym: PR