Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2014-11-08 — LA
Operator
Atmos Energy Corporation - Louisiana
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2014-11-08 10:30
Report number
Location
LA, ST. TAMMANY
Narrative
Note: details of the incident description and the findings in the investigation are supported by information supplied to atmos energy from miller pipeline. Incident description: on saturday, november 8, 2014, miller pipeline corp., a contractor performing work for atmos energy louisiana division, was scheduled to deactivate and abandon a 4" pe gas line on hwy 21 @ n. Azalea in covington, la. This was a cool day with low humidity. Miller pipeline employee anthony duncan (crew foreman) was in charge of this work and was qualified in the associated oq tasks. - all line stoppers utilized to block the source of gas were installed previously. - before beginning the purging process, mr. Duncan checked to make sure all sources of gas were blocked from the gas line to be deactivated. - after confirmation that all sources of gas were blocked, mr. Duncan proceeded to open the valve (on purge riser) to begin de-pressuring and blowing down the gas from the line. He waited 15 - 20 minutes for the line to blow down. - once he thought the line was completely blown down, mr. Duncan got in the excavation to remove the blow down riser. He used 2-inch plastic cutters to perform this task. It was during this process that the residual gas in the pipe ignited and a flash fire occurred injuring mr. Duncan. - mr. Duncan was transported to the hospital where he was held overnight for treatment and observation. Cause of the incident: it seems the primary cause of the incident was the gas line to be abandoned was not purged of gas properly, allowing residual gas to remain in the line. Secondly, precautions to prevent accidental ignition were not followed by not properly grounding the pipe or tools prior to cutting the purge riser. Static electricity seems to have been the source of ignition of the residual gas. Thirdly, mr. Duncan was not wearing the proper ppe (personal protective equipment) fire retardant clothing/gloves. This added protection could have minimized the extent of the injuries. Fourthly, mr. Duncan sent his helper (on fire watch) away to perform another job duty. By having someone on fire watch at the excavation with a fire extinguisher could also have minimized the extent of the injuries, by either extinguishing the fire right away or pulling mr. Duncan out of the excavation and away from the fire. Root cause: there seems to be human error in judgment by mr. Duncan in several instances involving following procedures and safety policies; the below factors in combination related to the cause of the flash fire which resulted in the incident: - did not purge natural gas from deactivated line by using air or nitrogen gas; - did not check for complete purging (0% gas) of natural gas with a cgi (combustible gas indicator) from the purge riser; - did not practice preventing static electricity hazard by using soapy water or anti-static spray and burlap sack on plastic pipe and also grounding tools prior to cutting purge riser from deactivated pipe. This along with residual gas in the deactivated pipe resulted in a flash fire which caused the injury. - did not wear proper ppe (personal protective equipment); fire retardant clothing and gloves. - did not have another worker at purge location on fire watch with a fire extinguisher. The above instances (which were not followed) are covered in atmos energy's o&m procedures and safety manual; they are also covered under oq tasks l2 - activating and purging pipelines and m8 - preventing accidental ignition.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2014-11-08 10:30:00
Year
2014
Report Received Date
2014-12-04 00:00:00
Iyear
2014.0
Report Number
20140109.0
Supplemental Number
15975.0
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
11800
Name
Atmos Energy Corporation - Louisiana
Operator Street Address
101 Airline Drive
Operator City Name
Metairie
Operator State Abbreviation
LA
Operator Postal Code
70001
Local Datetime
2014-11-08 10:05:00
Location Street Address
L********************@ *. Azalea
Location City Name
Covington
Location County Name
St. Tammany
Location State Abbreviation
LA
Location Postal Code
70471
Location Latitude
30.459133
Location Longitude
-90.123614
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2014-11-08 11:05:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1100522
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
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
2014-11-08 10:30:00
On Site Datetime
2014-11-08 10:30:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Other
Incident Area Details
Bell Hole Excavation
Depth Of Cover
36.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1987.0
Pipe Diameter
2.0
Pipe Specification
Sdr 11
Pipe Manufacturer
Plexco
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Wt Plastic
0.216
Material Pe Pipe Code
3408
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Purging To De-Activate Pipe
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
0.0
Est Cost Emergency
0.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Other Details
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
0.0
Prpty
0.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
0.0
Normal Psig
78.0
Mop Psig
80.0
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
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
Not Following Operator's Procedure.
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Decommissioning
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
S******** L****
Preparer Title
Engineer Ii
Preparer Email
S**************@a**********.com
Preparer Telephone
5048494417
Preparer Fax
5048494345
Authorizer Name
D***** W*********
Authorizer Title
Compliance Manager
Authorizer Telephone
5048494363
Authorizer Email
D****************@a**********.com
Narrative
N********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************@ n. Azalea in covington, la. This was a cool day with low humidity. Miller pipeline employee anthony duncan (crew foreman) was in charge of this work and was qualified in the associated oq tasks. - all line stoppers utilized to block the source of gas were installed previously. - before beginning the purging process, mr. Duncan checked to make sure all sources of gas were blocked from the gas line to be deactivated. - after confirmation that all sources of gas were blocked, mr. Duncan proceeded to open the valve (on purge riser) to begin de-pressuring and blowing down the gas from the line. He waited 15 - 20 minutes for the line to blow down. - once he thought the line was completely blown down, mr. Duncan got in the excavation to remove the blow down riser. He used 2-inch plastic cutters to perform this task. It was during this process that the residual gas in the pipe ignited and a flash fire occurred injuring mr. Duncan. - mr. Duncan was transported to the hospital where he was held overnight for treatment and observation. Cause of the incident: it seems the primary cause of the incident was the gas line to be abandoned was not purged of gas properly, allowing residual gas to remain in the line. Secondly, precautions to prevent accidental ignition were not followed by not properly grounding the pipe or tools prior to cutting the purge riser. Static electricity seems to have been the source of ignition of the residual gas. Thirdly, mr. Duncan was not wearing the proper ppe (personal protective equipment) fire retardant clothing/gloves. This added protection could have minimized the extent of the injuries. Fourthly, mr. Duncan sent his helper (on fire watch) away to perform another job duty. By having someone on fire watch at the excavation with a fire extinguisher could also have minimized the extent of the injuries, by either extinguishing the fire right away or pulling mr. Duncan out of the excavation and away from the fire. Root cause: there seems to be human error in judgment by mr. Duncan in several instances involving following procedures and safety policies; the below factors in combination related to the cause of the flash fire which resulted in the incident: - did not purge natural gas from deactivated line by using air or nitrogen gas; - did not check for complete purging (0% gas) of natural gas with a cgi (combustible gas indicator) from the purge riser; - did not practice preventing static electricity hazard by using soapy water or anti-static spray and burlap sack on plastic pipe and also grounding tools prior to cutting purge riser from deactivated pipe. This along with residual gas in the deactivated pipe resulted in a flash fire which caused the injury. - did not wear proper ppe (personal protective equipment); fire retardant clothing and gloves. - did not have another worker at purge location on fire watch with a fire extinguisher. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************.
| Occurred At | 2014-11-08 10:30:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Report Received Date | 2014-12-04 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2014.0 |
| Report Number | 20140109.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 15975.0 |
| Report Type | Original Final |
| Operator Id | 11800 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Atmos Energy Corporation - Louisiana |
| Operator Street Address | 101 Airline Drive |
| Operator City Name | Metairie |
| Operator State Abbreviation | LA |
| Operator Postal Code | 70001 |
| Local Datetime | 2014-11-08 10:05:00 |
| Location Street Address | L********************@ *. Azalea |
| Location City Name | Covington |
| Location County Name | St. Tammany |
| Location State Abbreviation | LA |
| Location Postal Code | 70471 |
| Location Latitude | 30.459133 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -90.123614 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2014-11-08 11:05:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1100522 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| 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 | 2014-11-08 10:30:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2014-11-08 10:30:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Other |
| Incident Area Details | Bell Hole Excavation |
| Depth Of Cover | 36.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1987.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 2.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Sdr 11 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Plexco |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Wt Plastic | 0.216 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 3408 |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Purging To De-Activate Pipe |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 0.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 0.0 |
| Normal Psig | 78.0 |
| Mop Psig | 80.0 |
| 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 | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | Not Following Operator's Procedure. |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Decommissioning |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Preparer Name | S******** L**** |
| Preparer Title | Engineer Ii |
| Preparer Email | S**************@a**********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 5048494417 |
| Preparer Fax | 5048494345 |
| Authorizer Name | D***** W********* |
| Authorizer Title | Compliance Manager |
| Authorizer Telephone | 5048494363 |
| Authorizer Email | D****************@a**********.com |
| Narrative | N********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************@ n. Azalea in covington, la. This was a cool day with low humidity. Miller pipeline employee anthony duncan (crew foreman) was in charge of this work and was qualified in the associated oq tasks. - all line stoppers utilized to block the source of gas were installed previously. - before beginning the purging process, mr. Duncan checked to make sure all sources of gas were blocked from the gas line to be deactivated. - after confirmation that all sources of gas were blocked, mr. Duncan proceeded to open the valve (on purge riser) to begin de-pressuring and blowing down the gas from the line. He waited 15 - 20 minutes for the line to blow down. - once he thought the line was completely blown down, mr. Duncan got in the excavation to remove the blow down riser. He used 2-inch plastic cutters to perform this task. It was during this process that the residual gas in the pipe ignited and a flash fire occurred injuring mr. Duncan. - mr. Duncan was transported to the hospital where he was held overnight for treatment and observation. Cause of the incident: it seems the primary cause of the incident was the gas line to be abandoned was not purged of gas properly, allowing residual gas to remain in the line. Secondly, precautions to prevent accidental ignition were not followed by not properly grounding the pipe or tools prior to cutting the purge riser. Static electricity seems to have been the source of ignition of the residual gas. Thirdly, mr. Duncan was not wearing the proper ppe (personal protective equipment) fire retardant clothing/gloves. This added protection could have minimized the extent of the injuries. Fourthly, mr. Duncan sent his helper (on fire watch) away to perform another job duty. By having someone on fire watch at the excavation with a fire extinguisher could also have minimized the extent of the injuries, by either extinguishing the fire right away or pulling mr. Duncan out of the excavation and away from the fire. Root cause: there seems to be human error in judgment by mr. Duncan in several instances involving following procedures and safety policies; the below factors in combination related to the cause of the flash fire which resulted in the incident: - did not purge natural gas from deactivated line by using air or nitrogen gas; - did not check for complete purging (0% gas) of natural gas with a cgi (combustible gas indicator) from the purge riser; - did not practice preventing static electricity hazard by using soapy water or anti-static spray and burlap sack on plastic pipe and also grounding tools prior to cutting purge riser from deactivated pipe. This along with residual gas in the deactivated pipe resulted in a flash fire which caused the injury. - did not wear proper ppe (personal protective equipment); fire retardant clothing and gloves. - did not have another worker at purge location on fire watch with a fire extinguisher. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************. |
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