NTSB Safety Recommendation P-97-039

NTSB safety recommendation P-97-039.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA: PROMOTE THE USE TO OF SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING PRACTICES AMONG YOUR MEMBERS TO MINIMIZE CONFLICTS BETWEEN CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES & UNDERGROUND SYSTEMS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1998-01-06

Adopted Date: 1997-12-23

Overall Date Closed: 1998-05-14

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.

Ntsbnumber: 80433

Report Number: SS-97-01

Addressee Name: Associated General Contractors of America

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1998-05-14

Addressee Acronym: AGC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1998-01-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: IN SEPTEMBER, JAMES H. ANSPACH, P.G., CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (ASCE) STANDARDS COMMITTEE, ADDRESSED AGC AT OUR MIDYEAR MEETING IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM. DURING HIS ADDRESS HE EXPLAINED THE USE OF SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING ( SUE) TO ENHANCE EXCAVATION SAFETY & THE STANDARDS ACTIVITY UNDERWAY ATASCE. THE ASCE STANDARDS SHOULD PRESENT A VALUABLE TOOL TO THE PROJECT OWNER & DESIGN PROFESSIONAL TO PRODUCE A BETTER DESIGN FOR THE PROJECT & A BETTER BID PACKAGE FOR THE CONTRACTOR. ATTENDEES WERE ENTHUSIASTIC TO LEARN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS THAT SUE & THE ASCE STANDARDS CAN OFFER. AS A RESULT, AGC WILL PROMOTE THESE BENEFITS TO THE OWNER, DESIGN PROFESSIONAL & CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY. AGC WILL PUBLISH AN ARTICLE BY MR. ANSPACH IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE OF OUR MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTOR OUTLINING THESE CONCEPTS. MR. ANSPACH IS ALSO WORKING AGC IN DEVELOPING A SEMINAR TO ASSIST OUR MEMBERS IN UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT THE ALLOCATION OF RISK REGARDING UTILITY INFO. AS ALWAYS, AGC IS VITALLY CONCERNED WITH SAFETY & IN HELPING TO PREVENT UNDERGROUND FACILITY DAMAGE. IF YOU COULD PROVIDE A COPY, AGC WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE COMPLETED STUDY. PLEASE CALL ON ME IF I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE IN ANY WAY.

Addressee Acronym: AGC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1997-05-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD IS PLEASED THAT THE AGC HAS ISSUED A NEWS RELEASE TO ITS MEMBERS SUPPORTING THE BOARD'S POSITION &, AT THE AGC MIDYEAR MEETING, PROMOTED THE USE OF SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING TO ENHANCE EXCAVATION SAFETY & THE STANDARDS ACTIVITY UNDERWAY AT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (ASCE). FURTHER, THE AGC WILL PROMOTE THE BENEFITS OF SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING TO ENHANCE EXCAVATION SAFETY TO THE OWNER, DESIGN PROFESSIONAL, & TO THE CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY. THE AGC WILL PUBLISH AN ARTICLE IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE OF ITS MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTOR OUTLINING THE BENEFITS, & THE ASCE IS ALSO WORKING WITH AGC IN DEVELOPING A SEMINAR TO ASSIST ITS MEMBERS IN UNDERSTANDING HOW THE USE OF SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING WOULD AFFECT THE ALLOCATION OF RISK REGARDING UTILITY INFO. THE BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING A COPY OF THE CONSTRUCTOR MAGAZINE ARTICLE ON THIS SUBJECT. BECAUSE OF THE QUICK & POSITIVE SUPPORT FROM THE AGC ON THIS ISSUE, P-97-39 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."