GD incident on 2012-05-15 — NJ

Operator
Elizabethtown Gas Co
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2012-05-15 08:24
Report number
Location
NJ, UNION
Narrative
Operator's main and service installation contractor was working on dead ended 4" low pressure (lp) steel main. A contractor crew member removed a drip saddle to access the tap hole in order to increase the tap size. This would allow the crew to stop the flow of gas and to connect a newly installed extension to the main. After removing the saddle, the crewmember attempted to enlarge the hole using a drill. An ignition and flash occurred. It was immediately extinguished and the tap hole re-sealed to stop the flow. Two contractor workers were injured in the flash. One was held at the hospital for four days for treatment and observation.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2012-05-15 08:24:00
Year
2012
Report Received Date
2012-06-13 00:00:00
Iyear
2012.0
Report Number
20120045.0
Supplemental Number
15461.0
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
Name
Elizabethtown Gas Co
Operator Street Address
520 Green Lane
Operator City Name
Union
Operator State Abbreviation
NJ
Operator Postal Code
07083
Local Datetime
2012-05-15 08:24:00
Location Street Address
Union County Parkway
Location City Name
Union
Location County Name
Union
Location State Abbreviation
NJ
Location Postal Code
07083
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2012-05-15 11:50:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
0.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
1
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
1
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2012-05-15 08:24:00
On Site Datetime
2012-05-15 08:42:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover
42.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1972.0
Pipe Diameter
4.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Tap Hole
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
0.0
Est Cost Emergency
313.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
0.0
Prpty
313.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
0.25
Normal Psig
0.25
Mop Psig
0.25
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Contractor Working For The Operator
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Contractors Tested
1
Num Contractors Failed
0
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
Use Of Improper Tool During Live Gas Operation.
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Construction
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
P***** S********
Preparer Title
Compliance Engineer
Preparer Email
P*******@a***********.ccom
Preparer Telephone
908 662 8306
Preparer Fax
908 351 5127
Authorizer Name
R****** L***
Authorizer Title
Director Of Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
405 584 3552
Authorizer Email
R****@a***********.com
Narrative
Operator's main and service installation contractor was working on dead ended 4" low pressure (lp) steel main. A contractor crew member removed a drip saddle to access the tap hole in order to increase the tap size. This would allow the crew to stop the flow of gas and to connect a newly installed extension to the main. After removing the saddle, the crewmember attempted to enlarge the hole using a drill. An ignition and flash occurred. It was immediately extinguished and the tap hole re-sealed to stop the flow. Two contractor workers were injured in the flash. One was held at the hospital for four days for treatment and observation.
Occurred At 2012-05-15 08:24:00
Year 2012
Report Received Date 2012-06-13 00:00:00
Iyear 2012.0
Report Number 20120045.0
Supplemental Number 15461.0
Report Type Original Final
Operator Id 4350 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Elizabethtown Gas Co
Operator Street Address 520 Green Lane
Operator City Name Union
Operator State Abbreviation NJ
Operator Postal Code 07083
Local Datetime 2012-05-15 08:24:00
Location Street Address Union County Parkway
Location City Name Union
Location County Name Union
Location State Abbreviation NJ
Location Postal Code 07083
Location Latitude 40.69168 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -74.24858 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2012-05-15 11:50:00
Nrc Rpt Num 1011565 NRC Report How to search
Commodity Released Type Natural Gas
Unintentional Release 0.0
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind Yes
Num Emp Injuries 0
Num Contr Injuries 1
Num Er Injuries 0
Num Worker Injuries 0
Num Gp Injuries 0
Injure 1
Ignite Ind Yes
Explode Ind No
Num Pub Evacuated 0.0
Incident Identified Datetime 2012-05-15 08:24:00
On Site Datetime 2012-05-15 08:42:00
Federal No
Location Type Public Property
Incident Area Type Underground
Incident Area Subtype Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover 42.0
Crossing No
Pipe Facility Type Privately Owned
System Part Involved Main
Installation Year 1972.0
Pipe Diameter 4.0
Pipe Specification Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer Unknown
Material Involved Steel
Steel Seam Type Other
Steel Seam Type Details Unknown
Release Type Other
Release Type Details Tap Hole
Class Location Type Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid 0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage 0.0
Est Cost Emergency 313.0
Est Cost Other 0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release 0.0
Prpty 313.0
Commercial Affected 0.0
Industrial Affected 0.0
Residences Affected 0.0
Accident Psig 0.25
Normal Psig 0.25
Mop Psig 0.25
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind No
Accident Identifier Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type Contractor Working For The Operator
Investigation Status No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind No
Contractor Drug Test Ind Yes
Num Contractors Tested 1
Num Contractors Failed 0
Cause Incorrect Operation
Cause Details Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details Use Of Improper Tool During Live Gas Operation.
Related Failure Follow Ind Yes
Category Type Construction
Operator Qualification Ind Yes
Qualified Individuals Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name P***** S********
Preparer Title Compliance Engineer
Preparer Email P*******@a***********.ccom
Preparer Telephone 908 662 8306
Preparer Fax 908 351 5127
Authorizer Name R****** L***
Authorizer Title Director Of Compliance
Authorizer Telephone 405 584 3552
Authorizer Email R****@a***********.com
Narrative Operator's main and service installation contractor was working on dead ended 4" low pressure (lp) steel main. A contractor crew member removed a drip saddle to access the tap hole in order to increase the tap size. This would allow the crew to stop the flow of gas and to connect a newly installed extension to the main. After removing the saddle, the crewmember attempted to enlarge the hole using a drill. An ignition and flash occurred. It was immediately extinguished and the tap hole re-sealed to stop the flow. Two contractor workers were injured in the flash. One was held at the hospital for four days for treatment and observation.

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