NTSB Safety Recommendation P-97-004

NTSB safety recommendation P-97-004.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ENRON CORPORATION: REQUIRE THE SAN JUAN GAS COMPANY TO MODIFY ITS PROCEDURES SO THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO RECEIVES A CALL ABOUT A GAS ODOR COLLECTS ENOUGH INFO TO BE ABLETO ASSESS THE DANGER, ADVISE THE CALLER APPROPRIATELY, & DETERMINE WHETHER TO NOTIFY LOCAL EMERGENCY-RESPONSE AGENCIES. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1997-02-25

Adopted Date: 1997-02-24

Overall Date Closed: 2002-07-29

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 SEARCH & 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: Enron Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-07-29

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-03-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 03/08/2002 3:02:09 PM MC# 2020270 Mr. White informed the Safety Board in his letter of May 2, 1997 that all employees that were responsible for receiving leak or odor complaints have completed refresher course training. Additionally, a revised odor complaint policy and complaint form were developed and implemented. During the public hearings that were held beginning June 2, 1997, the Safety Board was provided with a copy of the odor complaint procedure from the San Juan Gas Operating Procedure Manual, as well as the revised form used by San Juan Gas employees. Additionally, Mr. David Johnson, party representative at the hearing, sent copies of the procedure and checklist form to Mr. Cliff Zimmerman on July 23, 1997.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1997-02-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE GAS COMPANY STATED THAT IT HAS ADOPTED PROCEDURES FOR EMPLOYEES WHO RECEIVE CALLS ABOUT GAS ODORS. ALSO, IT HAS CONDUCTED ONSITE TRAINING & EVALUATION BY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CONSULTANT FOR EMPLOYEES WHO RESPOND TO GAS ODOR COMPLAINTS, ASSESS THE SITUATION DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1997-05-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE RESPONSE STATED THAT ALL SAN JUAN GAS COMPANY EMPOYEES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECEIVING LEAK OR ODOR COMPLAINTS HAVE COMPLETED A REFRESHER TRAINING ON THE POLICIES & PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO THESE CALLS. ALSO, THESE EMPLOYEES HAVE COMPLETED TRAINING IN THE USE OF A REVISED FORM DEVELOPED FOR SAN JUAN GAS COMPANY PERSONNEL RESPONDING TO THESE CALLS. THE REVISED FORM WAS PLACED INTO USE ON COMPLETION OF THIS TRAINING.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-07-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SJG reports that a revised odor complaint policy and complaint form have been developed and implemented, and that all employees responsible for receiving leak or odor complaints have completed refresher course training. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-97-4 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1997-04-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: A-97-4 ASKED THAT ERON REQUIRE THE SAN JUAN GAS COMPANY TO MODIFY IT PROCEDURES SO THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO RECEIVES A CALL ABOUT A GAS ODOR COLLECTS ENOUGH INFO TO BE ABLE TO ASSESS THE DANGER, ADVISE THE CALLER APPROPRIATELY, & DETERMINE WHETHER TO NOTIFY LOCAL EMERGENCY-RESPONSE AGENCIES. PENDING RECEIPT OF THAT INFO, P-97-4 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1997-07-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, SAFETY BOARD STAFF REQUESTED A COPY OF THE CURRENT PROCEDURES & COPIES OF THE OLD & REVISED FORMS USED BY EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBLE FOR RECEIVING LEAK OR ODOR COMPLAINTS. PENDING THE OUTCOME OF A REVIEW OF THESE DOCUMENTS, P-97-4 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2001-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: To date, the Safety Board has not received any further response from Enron and would appreciate being informed about any additional efforts that have been made to implement Safety Recommendations P-97-1 through -4. Enclosed are copies of our correspondence concerning these recommendations. Please address your response to Ms. Marion C. Blakey, Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, and refer to the recommendations by number in your response.