NTSB Safety Recommendation P-97-025

NTSB safety recommendation P-97-025.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION: INITIATE & PERIODICALLY CONDUCT, IN CONJUCTION WITH RSPA, DETAILED & COMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS & EVALUATIONS OF EXISTING STATE EXCAVATION DAMAGE PREVENTION PROGRAMS & RECOMMEND CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS, WHERE WARRANTED, SUCH AS FULL PARTICIPATION, ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROGRAM, PRE-MARKING REQUIREMENTS & TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN EXCAVATION ACTIVITY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Issued Date: 1998-01-06

Adopted Date: 1997-12-23

Overall Date Closed: 2001-02-26

Synopsis: A GAS EXPLOSION ON 11/21/96, IN THE RIO PIEDRAS SHOPPING DISTRICT OF SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, RESULTED IN 33 FATALTIES & 69 INJURIES. THIS ACCIDENT, ONE OF THE DEADLIEST IN PIPELINE HISTORY, MADE 1996 A RECORD YEAR FOR PIPELINE FATALITIES. THE SAN JUAN ACCIDENT ACCOUNTED FOR MORE FATALITIES THAN OCCURRED THE ENTIRE PREVIOUS YEAR, & IT VIVIDLY ILLUSTRATES THE TRAGIC POTENTIAL OF A SINGLE EXCAVATION-DAMAGED PIPE.

Keywords: Excavation, Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: 80433

Report Number: SS-97-01

Addressee Name: American Public Works Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-02-26

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1998-01-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ( Letter Mail Controlled 2/2/98 3:52:55 PM MC# 980119 ) APWA ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF RECOMMENDATIONS P-97-25 THRU -33, HAS SOME PROBLEMS WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS & THINKS THEY CAN DO SOME OF THEM. APWA HAS SUGGESTED WE CONTACT A LOCAL REP.

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-02-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On June 7, 2000, the National Transportation Safety Board sent the American Public Works Association (APWA) a letter requesting information on the status of safety recommendations about which we have never received a response. As noted in the Safety Board’s letter of March 12, 1998, APWA and Safety Board staff met to discuss the 1997 recommendations with the expectation that an APWA follow-on response would be forthcoming. As there has never been a response from APWA to the Board’s June 7, 2000, letter on any of these issues, Safety Recommendations P-95-8 and -9, and P-97-25 through -33, are classified "Closed--Unacceptable Action, No Response Received."

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1998-03-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD STAFF HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE APWA OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., & HAS SCHEDULED A MEETING ON 3/12/98, TO DISCUSS THESE SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS. PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THIS MEETING, P-97-25 THROUGH -33 WILL REMAIN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--AWAIT RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-06-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AS NOTED IN THE SAFETY BOARD'S LETTER OF MARCH 12, 1998, APWA AND SAFETY BOARD STAFF MET TO DISCUSS THE 1997 RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT AN APWA FOLLOW-ON RESPONSE WOULD BE FORTHCOMING. TO DATE, THE SAFETY BOARD HAS RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM APWA AND WOULD APPRECIATE BEING INFORMED ABOUT EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING MADE TO IMPLEMENT THESE SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS.