Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2017-12-08 — NY
Operator
Consolidated Edison Co Of New York
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$15,000
Incident datetime
2017-12-08 19:20
Report number
Location
NY, QUEENS
Narrative
At 19:20 on december 8, 2017, a supervisor from con edison's queens gas construction department reported a gas ignition to con edison's gas emergency response center (gerc). The supervisor reported that the ignition - located in an excavation in the roadway in front of 47-55 37th street in queens - occurred while con edison employees were working to repair a type 1 gas leak associated with a cracked 4-inch low pressure radial cast iron gas main. A company employee failed to maintain adequate clearance from underground electric facilities while using a towable backhoe to remove large pieces of concrete from the excavation. The backhoe damaged a secondary cable, causing an arc, which ignited the gas that was leaking from the cracked main. The fire department of the city of new york (fdny) responded to the ignition and provided assistance. A multiple resource response event ("code murre") was initiated by the gerc and additional crews from gas construction and gas distribution services (gds) were dispatched, together with supervisors, from queens, bronx and westchester. Con edison crews began digging a fire bank excavation in front of 47-31 37th street to allow for stopper installation and isolation of the 4-inch radial gas main. At 20:26, while monitoring the area, gds detected a 0.7% gas reading in the atmosphere inside the building at 47-55 37th street and a 1% gas reading in the basement of that building at the electric service point-of-entry. The building at 47-55 37th street was then vented by gds, and the gerc notified con edison's electric operations department to respond. Gds also reported detecting a 6% gas reading in electric manhole m17797. The adjacent electric manholes were checked with no gas readings detected, and power ventilation equipment was installed on manhole m17797. The atmospheric readings in 47-55 37th street vented down to 0% and the electric point-of-entry vented down from 1% to 0.1%. At 22:15, stoppers were installed, eliminating the gas leak and extinguishing the fire. At 22:18, m17797 was confirmed vented to 0%. Four gas services were interrupted: two commercial buildings, a sixteen-family residential building, and a three-family residential building. Gas construction worked to restore gas service to the affected buildings. Three con edison employees sustained minor burn injuries and were treated on location. Fire-related damage sustained by a private vehicle and con edison's towable backhoe, together with con edison's response costs, are estimated to be in excess of $50,000. Drug and alcohol testing was administered. There were no reported evacuations. New york city emergency management, fdny, and the new york city department of transportation responded. The national response center, the new york state department of public service, and the new york city department of environmental protection were notified and updated. The occupational safety and health administration and the new york state department of public service were on location.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2017-12-08 19:20:00
Year
2017
Report Received Date
2018-01-05 00:00:00
Iyear
2017.0
Report Number
20180003.0
Supplemental Number
30764.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
2704
Name
Consolidated Edison Co Of New York
Operator Street Address
4 Irving Place
Operator City Name
New York
Operator State Abbreviation
NY
Operator Postal Code
10003
Local Datetime
2017-12-08 19:20:00
Location Street Address
47-55 37 Street
Location City Name
New York
Location County Name
Queens
Location State Abbreviation
NY
Location Postal Code
11101-1803
Location Latitude
40.7406859
Location Longitude
-73.928386
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2017-12-08 20:03:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1199191
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
30.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2017-12-08 19:20:00
On Site Datetime
2017-12-07 14:04:00
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
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1907.0
Pipe Diameter
4.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Cast/wrought Iron
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 4 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
25000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
15000.0
Est Cost Emergency
25055.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
78.0
Prpty
65133.0
Commercial Affected
2.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
2.0
Accident Psig
0.25
Normal Psig
0.25
Mop Psig
0.5
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
3
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
A Company Employee Failed To Maintain Adequate Clearance From Underground Electric Facilities While Using A Towable Backhoe To Remove Large Pieces Of Concrete From The Excavation. The Backhoe Damaged A Secondary Cable, Causing An Arc, Which Ignited The Gas That Was Leaking From The Cracked Main.
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Non-Routine Operating Conditions (Abnormal Operations Or Emergencies)
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
K**** F****
Preparer Title
Operations Manager-Gas Emergency Response Center
Preparer Email
F*****@c****.com
Preparer Telephone
718-319-2310
Preparer Fax
718-824-2219
Authorizer Name
N******* H*****
Authorizer Title
Department Manager-Gas Emergency Response Center
Authorizer Telephone
718-319-2350
Authorizer Email
H******@c****.com
Narrative
At 19:20 on december 8, 2017, a supervisor from con edison's queens gas construction department reported a gas ignition to con edison's gas emergency response center (gerc). The supervisor reported that the ignition - located in an excavation in the roadway in front of 47-55 37th street in queens - occurred while con edison employees were working to repair a type 1 gas leak associated with a cracked 4-inch low pressure radial cast iron gas main. A company employee failed to maintain adequate clearance from underground electric facilities while using a towable backhoe to remove large pieces of concrete from the excavation. The backhoe damaged a secondary cable, causing an arc, which ignited the gas that was leaking from the cracked main. The fire department of the city of new york (fdny) responded to the ignition and provided assistance. A multiple resource response event ("code murre") was initiated by the gerc and additional crews from gas construction and gas distribution services (gds) were dispatched, together with supervisors, from queens, bronx and westchester. Con edison crews began digging a fire bank excavation in front of 47-31 37th street to allow for stopper installation and isolation of the 4-inch radial gas main. At 20:26, while monitoring the area, gds detected a 0.7% gas reading in the atmosphere inside the building at 47-55 37th street and a 1% gas reading in the basement of that building at the electric service point-of-entry. The building at 47-55 37th street was then vented by gds, and the gerc notified con edison's electric operations department to respond. Gds also reported detecting a 6% gas reading in electric manhole m17797. The adjacent electric manholes were checked with no gas readings detected, and power ventilation equipment was installed on manhole m17797. The atmospheric readings in 47-55 37th street vented down to 0% and the electric point-of-entry vented down from 1% to 0.1%. At 22:15, stoppers were installed, eliminating the gas leak and extinguishing the fire. At 22:18, m17797 was confirmed vented to 0%. Four gas services were interrupted: two commercial buildings, a sixteen-family residential building, and a three-family residential building. Gas construction worked to restore gas service to the affected buildings. Three con edison employees sustained minor burn injuries and were treated on location. Fire-related damage sustained by a private vehicle and con edison's towable backhoe, together with con edison's response costs, are estimated to be in excess of $50,000. Drug and alcohol testing was administered. There were no reported evacuations. New york city emergency management, fdny, and the new york city department of transportation responded. The national response center, the new york state department of public service, and the new york city department of environmental protection were notified and updated. The occupational safety and health administration and the new york state department of public service were on location.
| Occurred At | 2017-12-08 19:20:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2017 |
| Report Received Date | 2018-01-05 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2017.0 |
| Report Number | 20180003.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 30764.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 2704 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Consolidated Edison Co Of New York |
| Operator Street Address | 4 Irving Place |
| Operator City Name | New York |
| Operator State Abbreviation | NY |
| Operator Postal Code | 10003 |
| Local Datetime | 2017-12-08 19:20:00 |
| Location Street Address | 47-55 37 Street |
| Location City Name | New York |
| Location County Name | Queens |
| Location State Abbreviation | NY |
| Location Postal Code | 11101-1803 |
| Location Latitude | 40.7406859 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -73.928386 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2017-12-08 20:03:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1199191 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 30.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2017-12-08 19:20:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2017-12-07 14:04:00 |
| 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 | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1907.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 4.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Cast/wrought Iron |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 4 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 25000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 15000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 25055.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 78.0 |
| Prpty | 65133.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 2.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 2.0 |
| Accident Psig | 0.25 |
| Normal Psig | 0.25 |
| Mop Psig | 0.5 |
| 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 | 3 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | A Company Employee Failed To Maintain Adequate Clearance From Underground Electric Facilities While Using A Towable Backhoe To Remove Large Pieces Of Concrete From The Excavation. The Backhoe Damaged A Secondary Cable, Causing An Arc, Which Ignited The Gas That Was Leaking From The Cracked Main. |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Non-Routine Operating Conditions (Abnormal Operations Or Emergencies) |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Preparer Name | K**** F**** |
| Preparer Title | Operations Manager-Gas Emergency Response Center |
| Preparer Email | F*****@c****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 718-319-2310 |
| Preparer Fax | 718-824-2219 |
| Authorizer Name | N******* H***** |
| Authorizer Title | Department Manager-Gas Emergency Response Center |
| Authorizer Telephone | 718-319-2350 |
| Authorizer Email | H******@c****.com |
| Narrative | At 19:20 on december 8, 2017, a supervisor from con edison's queens gas construction department reported a gas ignition to con edison's gas emergency response center (gerc). The supervisor reported that the ignition - located in an excavation in the roadway in front of 47-55 37th street in queens - occurred while con edison employees were working to repair a type 1 gas leak associated with a cracked 4-inch low pressure radial cast iron gas main. A company employee failed to maintain adequate clearance from underground electric facilities while using a towable backhoe to remove large pieces of concrete from the excavation. The backhoe damaged a secondary cable, causing an arc, which ignited the gas that was leaking from the cracked main. The fire department of the city of new york (fdny) responded to the ignition and provided assistance. A multiple resource response event ("code murre") was initiated by the gerc and additional crews from gas construction and gas distribution services (gds) were dispatched, together with supervisors, from queens, bronx and westchester. Con edison crews began digging a fire bank excavation in front of 47-31 37th street to allow for stopper installation and isolation of the 4-inch radial gas main. At 20:26, while monitoring the area, gds detected a 0.7% gas reading in the atmosphere inside the building at 47-55 37th street and a 1% gas reading in the basement of that building at the electric service point-of-entry. The building at 47-55 37th street was then vented by gds, and the gerc notified con edison's electric operations department to respond. Gds also reported detecting a 6% gas reading in electric manhole m17797. The adjacent electric manholes were checked with no gas readings detected, and power ventilation equipment was installed on manhole m17797. The atmospheric readings in 47-55 37th street vented down to 0% and the electric point-of-entry vented down from 1% to 0.1%. At 22:15, stoppers were installed, eliminating the gas leak and extinguishing the fire. At 22:18, m17797 was confirmed vented to 0%. Four gas services were interrupted: two commercial buildings, a sixteen-family residential building, and a three-family residential building. Gas construction worked to restore gas service to the affected buildings. Three con edison employees sustained minor burn injuries and were treated on location. Fire-related damage sustained by a private vehicle and con edison's towable backhoe, together with con edison's response costs, are estimated to be in excess of $50,000. Drug and alcohol testing was administered. There were no reported evacuations. New york city emergency management, fdny, and the new york city department of transportation responded. The national response center, the new york state department of public service, and the new york city department of environmental protection were notified and updated. The occupational safety and health administration and the new york state department of public service were on location. |
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