Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2013-05-03 — OH
Operator
Columbia Gas Of Ohio Inc
Cause
Other Incident Cause
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$498
Incident datetime
2013-05-03 11:45
Report number
Location
OH, LUCAS
Narrative
A two person repair crew was repairing a leak on a 4" wrought iron main line in an open excavation. A water pump was being used to remove excess water while the crew began removing scale off the steel main line with a pneumatic scaler to install a leak clamp when the natural gas present in the excavation ignited. Only one individual was in the open excavation at the time of the ignition. The fire was immediately extinguished by the second crew member. The crew member subjected to the ignition immediately exited the excavation. He then removed his nomex hood and other fire resistant clothing and safety apparel. He was given first aid and 911 was called. An investigation into the cause of incident has been conducted and can not ascertain the cause with any reasonalble degree of certainty. Columbia gas of ohio's third party cause and origin investigators were able to determine that there were two potential sources of ignition in the excavation at the time of the incident; a pneumatic scaler and an electric water pump. The damage to the electric water pump's wiring and protective boot allowed arcing which is likely the ignition source of this incident. There is physical evidence that suggests the condition of the protective boot was compromised prior to the incident. In order to eliminate the potential for recurrence columbia gas of ohio inc. Has prohibited the use of these water pumps by all repair crews and is actively seeking a replacement water pump which is not electrically driven. In addition, while the investigation did not indicate that the incident was not caused by the scaler, columbia is also issuing a safety bulletin to our maintenance crews advising them to ensure a cobalt pistons are being utilized. Please consider this columbia's final report on this incident.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2013-05-03 11:45:00
Year
2013
Report Received Date
2013-05-30 00:00:00
Iyear
2013.0
Report Number
20130066.0
Supplemental Number
15700.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
2596
Name
Columbia Gas Of Ohio Inc
Operator Street Address
200 Civic Center Dr
Operator City Name
Columbus
Operator State Abbreviation
OH
Operator Postal Code
43215
Local Datetime
2013-05-03 11:45:00
Location Street Address
816 Utah St.
Location City Name
Toledo
Location County Name
Lucas
Location State Abbreviation
OH
Location Postal Code
43065
Location Latitude
41.6356
Location Longitude
-83.52742
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2013-05-03 12:43:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1045929
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
4.8
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
1
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
1
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
4.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2013-05-03 11:45:00
On Site Datetime
2013-05-03 11:45:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover
36.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Pipe Diameter
4.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Cast/wrought Iron
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Localized Corrosion Pitting
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
2075.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
498.0
Est Cost Emergency
2000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
13.0
Prpty
4586.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
4.0
Accident Psig
0.45
Normal Psig
0.45
Mop Psig
1.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
2
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Contractors Tested
2
Num Contractors Failed
0
Cause
Other Incident Cause
Cause Details
Unknown
Other Type
Unknown
Unknown Subtype
Investigation Complete, Cause Of Incident Unknown
Preparer Name
R** R* S****
Preparer Title
Operations Compliance Manager
Preparer Email
R******@n*******.com
Preparer Telephone
614-818-2110
Preparer Fax
614-818-2151
Authorizer Name
R** R* S****
Authorizer Title
Operations Compliance Manager
Authorizer Telephone
614-818-2110
Authorizer Email
R******@n*******.com
Narrative
A two person repair crew was repairing a leak on a 4" wrought iron main line in an open excavation. A water pump was being used to remove excess water while the crew began removing scale off the steel main line with a pneumatic scaler to install a leak clamp when the natural gas present in the excavation ignited. Only one individual was in the open excavation at the time of the ignition. The fire was immediately extinguished by the second crew member. The crew member subjected to the ignition immediately exited the excavation. He then removed his nomex hood and other fire resistant clothing and safety apparel. He was given first aid and 911 was called. An investigation into the cause of incident has been conducted and can not ascertain the cause with any reasonalble degree of certainty. Columbia gas of ohio's third party cause and origin investigators were able to determine that there were two potential sources of ignition in the excavation at the time of the incident; a pneumatic scaler and an electric water pump. The damage to the electric water pump's wiring and protective boot allowed arcing which is likely the ignition source of this incident. There is physical evidence that suggests the condition of the protective boot was compromised prior to the incident. In order to eliminate the potential for recurrence columbia gas of ohio inc. Has prohibited the use of these water pumps by all repair crews and is actively seeking a replacement water pump which is not electrically driven. In addition, while the investigation did not indicate that the incident was not caused by the scaler, columbia is also issuing a safety bulletin to our maintenance crews advising them to ensure a cobalt pistons are being utilized. Please consider this columbia's final report on this incident.
| Occurred At | 2013-05-03 11:45:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2013 |
| Report Received Date | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2013.0 |
| Report Number | 20130066.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 15700.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 2596 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Columbia Gas Of Ohio Inc |
| Operator Street Address | 200 Civic Center Dr |
| Operator City Name | Columbus |
| Operator State Abbreviation | OH |
| Operator Postal Code | 43215 |
| Local Datetime | 2013-05-03 11:45:00 |
| Location Street Address | 816 Utah St. |
| Location City Name | Toledo |
| Location County Name | Lucas |
| Location State Abbreviation | OH |
| Location Postal Code | 43065 |
| Location Latitude | 41.6356 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -83.52742 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2013-05-03 12:43:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1045929 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 4.8 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 1 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 0 |
| Injure | 1 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 4.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2013-05-03 11:45:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2013-05-03 11:45:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Depth Of Cover | 36.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Pipe Diameter | 4.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Cast/wrought Iron |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Localized Corrosion Pitting |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 2075.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 498.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 2000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 13.0 |
| Prpty | 4586.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 4.0 |
| Accident Psig | 0.45 |
| Normal Psig | 0.45 |
| Mop Psig | 1.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Investigation Status | No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Employees Tested | 2 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Contractors Tested | 2 |
| Num Contractors Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Other Incident Cause |
| Cause Details | Unknown |
| Other Type | Unknown |
| Unknown Subtype | Investigation Complete, Cause Of Incident Unknown |
| Preparer Name | R** R* S**** |
| Preparer Title | Operations Compliance Manager |
| Preparer Email | R******@n*******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 614-818-2110 |
| Preparer Fax | 614-818-2151 |
| Authorizer Name | R** R* S**** |
| Authorizer Title | Operations Compliance Manager |
| Authorizer Telephone | 614-818-2110 |
| Authorizer Email | R******@n*******.com |
| Narrative | A two person repair crew was repairing a leak on a 4" wrought iron main line in an open excavation. A water pump was being used to remove excess water while the crew began removing scale off the steel main line with a pneumatic scaler to install a leak clamp when the natural gas present in the excavation ignited. Only one individual was in the open excavation at the time of the ignition. The fire was immediately extinguished by the second crew member. The crew member subjected to the ignition immediately exited the excavation. He then removed his nomex hood and other fire resistant clothing and safety apparel. He was given first aid and 911 was called. An investigation into the cause of incident has been conducted and can not ascertain the cause with any reasonalble degree of certainty. Columbia gas of ohio's third party cause and origin investigators were able to determine that there were two potential sources of ignition in the excavation at the time of the incident; a pneumatic scaler and an electric water pump. The damage to the electric water pump's wiring and protective boot allowed arcing which is likely the ignition source of this incident. There is physical evidence that suggests the condition of the protective boot was compromised prior to the incident. In order to eliminate the potential for recurrence columbia gas of ohio inc. Has prohibited the use of these water pumps by all repair crews and is actively seeking a replacement water pump which is not electrically driven. In addition, while the investigation did not indicate that the incident was not caused by the scaler, columbia is also issuing a safety bulletin to our maintenance crews advising them to ensure a cobalt pistons are being utilized. Please consider this columbia's final report on this incident. |
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