NTSB Safety Recommendation Letter P-75-012 through P-75-013

Page 1Official PDFANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. REVISED COPY: 10/21/75 ISSUED: October 20, 1975 M r . Rae Cornwall Manager Stroudsburg Gas Company 203 Main Street Stroudshurg, Pennsylvania 18360 P-75-12 and P-75-13 ll________l_________------------------ On June 1 7 , 1975, a house i n Stroudshurg, Pennsylvania, exploded and burned when t h e owner turned on the e l e c t r i c stove. The b l a s t from t h e explosion seared h i s face, neck, arms, and legs; h e was h o s p i t a l i z e d f o r burns and shock and died on June 18. The National Transportation Safety Board's i n v e s t i g a t i o n of the accident disclosed t h a t gas had been leaking from a corrosion hole, 2 1/2-inches long and 1/8-inch w i d e , which w a s located i n a 3/4-inch galvanized s t e e l gas service l i n e capped i n the basement of t h e house. There had been no gas s e r v i c e t o the house i n more than 8 years. The Safety Board's i n v e s t i g a t i o n f u r t h e r disclosed t h a t on June 14, another home owner i n the neighborhood had n o t i f i e d t h e Stroudsburg Gas Company of strong gas odors i n the area. A s a r e s u l t of the r e p o r t , gas company personnel checked the e x t e r i o r s of the houses i n the neighborhood, but did not e n t e r the houses. On .June 1 6 , gas company personnel again checked the e x t e r i o r s of t h e houses, but d i d not e n t e r t h e houses. Neither check revealed any i n d i c a t i o n s of gas leaks i n the area. After the accident the gas company exposed t h e s e r v i c e l i n e a t its connection with the gas main under t h e s t r e e t i n f r o n t of t h e house. The s e r v i c e l i n e was s t i l l connected t o the main although a work order, dated October 23, 1973, indicated t h a t the s e r v i c e l i n e had been discon- nected from the main and capped a t t h a t t i m e . After the accident, a 1-psig pressure t e s t was performed on the s e r v i c e l i n e which indicated t h a t the l i n e leaked a t the corrosion hole i n t h e house and a t s e v e r a l locations under the s t r e e t . 1667#

Page 2Therefore, the National Transpor t i o n Safety Board recomme the Stroudsburg Gas Company: 1. Review and r e v i s e its emerge procedures and its employee t r a i n i n g program t o i n s u r e t h a t houses i n a suspected leakage a r e a a r e entered and checked f o r gas. (Class I, Urgent Follow-up) 2 . Review and r e v i s e its service abandonment procedures t o insure t h a t a l l s e r v i c e l i n e s reported abandoned have been cut and cappe the main. (Class I, Urgent Follow-up) REED, Chairman, McADAMS, THAYER, BURGESS, and HALEY, Members, i n t h e above recommendations. " Chairman cc: Honorable William T . Coleman, Jr. Secretary of Transportation NAIIONAL IMNSPORIATION SAFETY B O A R D WASHINGION. D C 20504 OFFICIAL IIUSINESS PENALIY FOR PRIVATE USE. 8300#