GD incident on 2014-08-04 — MI

Operator
Dte Gas Company
Cause
Excavation Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$410
Incident datetime
2014-08-04 13:00
Report number
Location
MI, WAYNE
Narrative
During the process of abandoning the service line for 15253 evanston, a dte gas backhoe operator struck the 11/2-inch steel service line with the backhoe bucket and cracked the threads at a coupling near the main causing a natural gas leak. A dte gas maintenance fitter entered the excavation to stop the leak. The maintenance fitter attempted to remove the 1-1/2 inch plug from the top of the street tee at the main in order to insert an expandable stopper to shut off the gas but was unable to do so. The maintenance fitter decided to cut the service line with a four-wheel pipe cutter in order to stop the flow of gas by inserting a plug into the end of the pipe. When the maintenance fitter attempted to mount the cutter on the 1-1/2 inch pipe the escaping gas ignited, burning the maintenance fitter who was still in the excavation. The maintenance fitter was transported to the hospital by ambulance and treated for first and second degree burns to face and arms. The maintenance fitter was hospitalized overnight and released the next day. A second repair crew was sent to the site and completed the repair by installing a service saddle repair clamp.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2014-08-04 13:00:00
Year
2014
Report Received Date
2014-09-03 00:00:00
Iyear
2014.0
Report Number
20140074.0
Supplemental Number
15922.0
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
Name
Dte Gas Company
Operator Street Address
1 Energy Plaza
Operator City Name
Detroit
Operator State Abbreviation
MI
Operator Postal Code
48226
Local Datetime
2014-08-04 13:00:00
Location Street Address
15253 Evanston
Location City Name
Detroit
Location County Name
Wayne
Location State Abbreviation
MI
Location Postal Code
48224
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2014-08-05 11:25:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
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
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2014-08-04 13:00:00
On Site Datetime
2014-08-04 13:00:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover
48.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Service
Installation Year
1928.0
Pipe Diameter
1.5
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
410.0
Est Cost Emergency
360.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
5.0
Prpty
775.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
2.0
Normal Psig
2.0
Mop Psig
2.0
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
1
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Operator (First Party)
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Operator (First Party)
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Public Row Ind
Yes
Public Subtype
City Street
Excavator Type
Utility
Excavator Equipment
Backhoe/trackhoe
Work Performed
Natural Gas
One Call Notified Ind
Yes
One Call Ticket Num
42130254
One Call Center Name
No
Locator Type
Utility Owner
Visible Marks
No
Root Cause Category
Excavation Issue
Root Cause Type
Improper Excavation Practice Not Listed Above
Preparer Name
R***** F*********
Preparer Title
Manager
Preparer Email
F**********@d********.com
Preparer Telephone
313.389.7755
Preparer Fax
313.389.7757
Authorizer Name
R***** F*********
Authorizer Title
Manager
Authorizer Telephone
313.389.7755
Authorizer Email
F**********@d********.com
Narrative
During the process of abandoning the service line for 15253 evanston, a dte gas backhoe operator struck the 11/2-inch steel service line with the backhoe bucket and cracked the threads at a coupling near the main causing a natural gas leak. A dte gas maintenance fitter entered the excavation to stop the leak. The maintenance fitter attempted to remove the 1-1/2 inch plug from the top of the street tee at the main in order to insert an expandable stopper to shut off the gas but was unable to do so. The maintenance fitter decided to cut the service line with a four-wheel pipe cutter in order to stop the flow of gas by inserting a plug into the end of the pipe. When the maintenance fitter attempted to mount the cutter on the 1-1/2 inch pipe the escaping gas ignited, burning the maintenance fitter who was still in the excavation. The maintenance fitter was transported to the hospital by ambulance and treated for first and second degree burns to face and arms. The maintenance fitter was hospitalized overnight and released the next day. A second repair crew was sent to the site and completed the repair by installing a service saddle repair clamp.
Occurred At 2014-08-04 13:00:00
Year 2014
Report Received Date 2014-09-03 00:00:00
Iyear 2014.0
Report Number 20140074.0
Supplemental Number 15922.0
Report Type Original Final
Operator Id 12408 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Dte Gas Company
Operator Street Address 1 Energy Plaza
Operator City Name Detroit
Operator State Abbreviation MI
Operator Postal Code 48226
Local Datetime 2014-08-04 13:00:00
Location Street Address 15253 Evanston
Location City Name Detroit
Location County Name Wayne
Location State Abbreviation MI
Location Postal Code 48224
Location Latitude 42.407942 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -82.957011 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2014-08-05 11:25:00
Nrc Rpt Num 1091337 NRC Report How to search
Commodity Released Type Natural Gas
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 0.0
Incident Identified Datetime 2014-08-04 13:00:00
On Site Datetime 2014-08-04 13:00:00
Federal No
Location Type Public Property
Incident Area Type Underground
Incident Area Subtype Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover 48.0
Crossing No
Pipe Facility Type Privately Owned
System Part Involved Service
Installation Year 1928.0
Pipe Diameter 1.5
Pipe Specification Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer Unknown
Material Involved Steel
Steel Seam Type Other
Steel Seam Type Details Unknown
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Crack
Class Location Type Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid 0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage 410.0
Est Cost Emergency 360.0
Est Cost Other 0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release 5.0
Prpty 775.0
Commercial Affected 0.0
Industrial Affected 0.0
Residences Affected 0.0
Accident Psig 2.0
Normal Psig 2.0
Mop Psig 2.0
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 1
Num Employees Failed 0
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Excavation Damage
Cause Details Excavation Damage By Operator (First Party)
Ex Party Type Excavation Damage By Operator (First Party)
Notify Cga Dirt No
Public Row Ind Yes
Public Subtype City Street
Excavator Type Utility
Excavator Equipment Backhoe/trackhoe
Work Performed Natural Gas
One Call Notified Ind Yes
One Call Ticket Num 42130254
One Call Center Name No
Locator Type Utility Owner
Visible Marks No
Root Cause Category Excavation Issue
Root Cause Type Improper Excavation Practice Not Listed Above
Preparer Name R***** F*********
Preparer Title Manager
Preparer Email F**********@d********.com
Preparer Telephone 313.389.7755
Preparer Fax 313.389.7757
Authorizer Name R***** F*********
Authorizer Title Manager
Authorizer Telephone 313.389.7755
Authorizer Email F**********@d********.com
Narrative During the process of abandoning the service line for 15253 evanston, a dte gas backhoe operator struck the 11/2-inch steel service line with the backhoe bucket and cracked the threads at a coupling near the main causing a natural gas leak. A dte gas maintenance fitter entered the excavation to stop the leak. The maintenance fitter attempted to remove the 1-1/2 inch plug from the top of the street tee at the main in order to insert an expandable stopper to shut off the gas but was unable to do so. The maintenance fitter decided to cut the service line with a four-wheel pipe cutter in order to stop the flow of gas by inserting a plug into the end of the pipe. When the maintenance fitter attempted to mount the cutter on the 1-1/2 inch pipe the escaping gas ignited, burning the maintenance fitter who was still in the excavation. The maintenance fitter was transported to the hospital by ambulance and treated for first and second degree burns to face and arms. The maintenance fitter was hospitalized overnight and released the next day. A second repair crew was sent to the site and completed the repair by installing a service saddle repair clamp.

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