Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2021-05-14 — MD
Operator
Baltimore Gas And Electric Company
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
1 fatality
1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$20,689
Incident datetime
2021-05-14 17:00
Report number
Location
MD, BALTIMORE COUNTY
Narrative
At approximately 4 p.M. On may 14, 2021, a bge crew member received significant burns from a fire while installing a weld-over sleeve over a gas main coupling on a dead-end bypass. The steel gas main bypass was located at 8407 stevenson road, pikesville, maryland. Gas and electric crews immediately responded to the scene to isolate the trouble, mitigate risks, make repairs and restore service to 216 gas customers and area electric customers. The gas main was isolated by closing an upstream valve. The main was quickly repaired by cutting out this section of pipe and replacing with new steel piping. After an internal investigation by the company, it appears that the dead-end bypass section was not blocked/braced prior to cutting the restraining straps to perform the weld-over sleeve weld operation. The gas pressure force caused the non-restraining coupling to give way, which resulted in an uncontrolled release of gas with subsequent ignition from the welding equipment. Mitigating actions to prevent future recurrence include enhanced training pertaining to proper blocking and bracing, as well as modifications to further clarify gas construction standards.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2021-05-14 17:00:00
Year
2021
Report Received Date
2021-06-18 00:00:00
Iyear
2021.0
Report Number
20210054.0
Supplemental Number
36370.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
1088
Name
Baltimore Gas And Electric Company
Operator Street Address
110 W Fayette St
Operator City Name
Baltimore
Operator State Abbreviation
MD
Operator Postal Code
21201
Local Datetime
2021-05-14 16:07:00
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Street Address
8407 Stevenson Rd
Location City Name
Pikesville
Location County Name
Baltimore County
Location State Abbreviation
MD
Location Postal Code
21208
Location Latitude
39.4005646
Location Longitude
-76.7124795
Flow Cont Main Valve Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2021-06-14 18:18:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1305085
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1305192
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
1464.0
Intentional Release
0.0
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
1
Num Contr Fatalities
0
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
0
Num Gp Fatalities
0
Fatal
1
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
Ignite Datetime
2021-05-14 16:00:00
How Extinguished
Operator/contractor
Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf
1464
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2021-05-14 17:00:00
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Local/state/federal Emergency Responder
Initial Responder Com Datetime
2021-05-14 16:07:00
On Site Datetime
2021-05-14 17:00:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Pavement
Depth Of Cover
60.0
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1964.0
Pipe Diameter
2.0
Pipe Specification
Api 5l
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Longitudinal Erw - Low Frequency
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Non-Restricting Coupling Failure
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
20689.0
Est Cost Emergency
0.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Gas Cost In Mcf
4.45
Est Cost Unintentional Release
6515.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0.0
Prpty
27204.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
216.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
1.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
2.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0.0
Num Business Building Affctd
0.0
Accident Psig
90.0
Normal Psig
90.0
Mop Psig
99.0
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
1964-01-01 00:00:00
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Gas Odorized System Type
Injection Pump
Gas Odorized Lvl Not Msrd Ind
Yes
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
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
It Appears That The Dead-End Bypass Section Of The Steel Gas Main Was Not Blocked/braced Prior To Cutting The Restraining Straps To Perform The Weld-Over Sleeve Weld Operation. The Gas Pressure Force Caused The Non-Restraining Coupling To Give Way, Which Resulted In An Uncontrolled Release Of Gas With Subsequent Ignition From The Welding Equipment.
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Normal Operating Conditions
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Eqf Non Threaded Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
R***** R**
Preparer Title
Manager -Gas Engineering And Standards
Preparer Email
R*********@b**.com
Preparer Telephone
410-470-6933
Preparer Fax
410-470-9549
Authorizer Name
D***** A* N*****
Authorizer Title
Manager -Gas Engineering And Program Management
Authorizer Telephone
410-470-4365
Authorizer Email
D**************@b**.com
Narrative
At approximately 4 p.M. On may 14, 2021, a bge crew member received significant burns from a fire while installing a weld-over sleeve over a gas main coupling on a dead-end bypass. The steel gas main bypass was located at 8407 stevenson road, pikesville, maryland. Gas and electric crews immediately responded to the scene to isolate the trouble, mitigate risks, make repairs and restore service to 216 gas customers and area electric customers. The gas main was isolated by closing an upstream valve. The main was quickly repaired by cutting out this section of pipe and replacing with new steel piping. After an internal investigation by the company, it appears that the dead-end bypass section was not blocked/braced prior to cutting the restraining straps to perform the weld-over sleeve weld operation. The gas pressure force caused the non-restraining coupling to give way, which resulted in an uncontrolled release of gas with subsequent ignition from the welding equipment. Mitigating actions to prevent future recurrence include enhanced training pertaining to proper blocking and bracing, as well as modifications to further clarify gas construction standards.
| Occurred At | 2021-05-14 17:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2021 |
| Report Received Date | 2021-06-18 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2021.0 |
| Report Number | 20210054.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 36370.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 1088 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Baltimore Gas And Electric Company |
| Operator Street Address | 110 W Fayette St |
| Operator City Name | Baltimore |
| Operator State Abbreviation | MD |
| Operator Postal Code | 21201 |
| Local Datetime | 2021-05-14 16:07:00 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Street Address | 8407 Stevenson Rd |
| Location City Name | Pikesville |
| Location County Name | Baltimore County |
| Location State Abbreviation | MD |
| Location Postal Code | 21208 |
| Location Latitude | 39.4005646 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -76.7124795 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Main Valve Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2021-06-14 18:18:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1305085 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1305192 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 1464.0 |
| Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Fatality Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Fatalities | 1 |
| Num Contr Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Er Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Worker Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Gp Fatalities | 0 |
| Fatal | 1 |
| 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 |
| Ignite Datetime | 2021-05-14 16:00:00 |
| How Extinguished | Operator/contractor |
| Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf | 1464 |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2021-05-14 17:00:00 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Local/state/federal Emergency Responder |
| Initial Responder Com Datetime | 2021-05-14 16:07:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2021-05-14 17:00:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Pavement |
| Depth Of Cover | 60.0 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1964.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 2.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Longitudinal Erw - Low Frequency |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Non-Restricting Coupling Failure |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 20689.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 4.45 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 6515.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 27204.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 216.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 1.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 2.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 90.0 |
| Normal Psig | 90.0 |
| Mop Psig | 99.0 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1964-01-01 00:00:00 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Gas Odorized System Type | Injection Pump |
| Gas Odorized Lvl Not Msrd Ind | Yes |
| 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 | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | It Appears That The Dead-End Bypass Section Of The Steel Gas Main Was Not Blocked/braced Prior To Cutting The Restraining Straps To Perform The Weld-Over Sleeve Weld Operation. The Gas Pressure Force Caused The Non-Restraining Coupling To Give Way, Which Resulted In An Uncontrolled Release Of Gas With Subsequent Ignition From The Welding Equipment. |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Normal Operating Conditions |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Eqf Non Threaded Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | R***** R** |
| Preparer Title | Manager -Gas Engineering And Standards |
| Preparer Email | R*********@b**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 410-470-6933 |
| Preparer Fax | 410-470-9549 |
| Authorizer Name | D***** A* N***** |
| Authorizer Title | Manager -Gas Engineering And Program Management |
| Authorizer Telephone | 410-470-4365 |
| Authorizer Email | D**************@b**.com |
| Narrative | At approximately 4 p.M. On may 14, 2021, a bge crew member received significant burns from a fire while installing a weld-over sleeve over a gas main coupling on a dead-end bypass. The steel gas main bypass was located at 8407 stevenson road, pikesville, maryland. Gas and electric crews immediately responded to the scene to isolate the trouble, mitigate risks, make repairs and restore service to 216 gas customers and area electric customers. The gas main was isolated by closing an upstream valve. The main was quickly repaired by cutting out this section of pipe and replacing with new steel piping. After an internal investigation by the company, it appears that the dead-end bypass section was not blocked/braced prior to cutting the restraining straps to perform the weld-over sleeve weld operation. The gas pressure force caused the non-restraining coupling to give way, which resulted in an uncontrolled release of gas with subsequent ignition from the welding equipment. Mitigating actions to prevent future recurrence include enhanced training pertaining to proper blocking and bracing, as well as modifications to further clarify gas construction standards. |
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