Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2023-04-23 — PA
Operator
Ugi Utilities, Inc
Cause
Other Incident Cause
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
7 fatalities
3 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2023-04-23 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
PA, BERKS
Narrative
Pursuant to the ntsb's feb 22, 2024 factual record publication in its west reading investigation (id pld23lr002), ugi hereby provides a supplemental update to this incident report. A supplemental report will be filed when a cause has been determined and the ntsb issues its final report on the matter. On friday, march 24, 2023, at 4:55 p.M. Eastern standard time, a natural gas-fueled explosion and fire occurred at r. M. Palmer company (palmer) candy factory building 2 at 17 south 2nd avenue in west reading, pennsylvania. Seven employees were killed and 11 people were injured. Ugi first responders began arriving onsite at 5:19 p.M and isolated the distribution system supplying natural gas to the area by 6:15 p.M. Mechanical and visual examination indicated that natural gas was leaking from a dupont aldyl a service tee that was installed in 1982. Ugi exposed and retired the service line that was connected to this service tee in 2021 when the natural gas meter was relocated from the basement to the exterior of building 2. Palmer owned subsurface infrastructure ran underneath the public right of way along cherry street, between palmer buildings 1 and 2 and included a steam, condensate, and several heated chocolate pipelines. The palmer steam pipe was located approximately 23.4 inches to the west and 15.5 inches above the 1982 retired tee (center of pipe to top of tee). The steam pipe laid perpendicular to the gas main, with steam flowing from 77 s. 2nd ave to 17 s. 2nd ave (from south to north). The steam line was found to be deformed, corroded, and cracked along its east side. The steam line crack was measured to be approximately 5-inches by 2-inches at the 3 o'clock position on the steam pipe. A palmer mechanic indicated that on the day before the accident, a chocolate unloader entered the maintenance shop around 6:00 pm and told the mechanic that he smelled gas around the mechanic's car. Several employees working the second shift in building 1 reported that they smelled gas on the day of accident. One employee reported that she smelled gas as early as 2:58 p.M., and at 4 p.M. Three employees reported the odor to the second shift supervisor between 4:20-4:46 p.M. Some of the employees reported that they did not feel they could evacuate for fear of losing their job. No evacuation order was given by palmer management for buildings 1 and 2 prior to the explosion. Ugi states that no call was made to them regarding the smell of gas odorant on the day before or day of the accident. Part a.7 does not include estimated gas released unintentionally prior to ignition as ugi has no basis to estimate gas loss prior to ignition as the starting time of this leak has not been determined. Parts a.10 and a.22, have not changed since initial reporting. Ugi will amend this section in its final and supplement report pursuant to the release of the ntsb's final report on this matter. Part a.21.C was estimated based upon a service tap diameter of 0.807 inches to estimate gas consumed by the subsequent fire.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-04-23 00:00:00
Iyear
2023.0
Report Number
20230022.0
Supplemental Number
39369.0
Report Type
Supplemental
Operator Id
20010
Name
Ugi Utilities, Inc
Operator Street Address
1 Ugi Drive
Operator City Name
Denver
Operator State Abbreviation
PA
Operator Postal Code
17517.0
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Street Address
17 S 2nd Avenue
Location City Name
West Reading
Location County Name
Berks
Location State Abbreviation
PA
Location Postal Code
19611.0
Location Latitude
40.334434
Location Longitude
-75.942206
Flow Cont Main Valve Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Num
1363061.0
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1363191.0
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
83.0
Intentional Release
0.09
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
0
Num Contr Fatalities
0
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
0
Num Gp Fatalities
7
Fatal
7
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
3
Injure
3
Ignite Ind
Yes
How Extinguished
Local/state/federal Emergency Responder
Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf
83
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
35.0
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Other
System Part Details
Service Tapping Tee
Installation Year
1982.0
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Wt Plastic Unknown Ind
Unknown
Material Pe Pipe Code
2306
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
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
Costs For Items 2a-2d Are Still Being Determined.
Gas Cost In Mcf
2.11
Est Cost Unintentional Release
175.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0.0
Prpty
175.0
Commercial Affected
14.0
Industrial Affected
4.0
Residences Affected
11.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
7.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
18.0
Num Business Building Affctd
7.0
Accident Psig
53.0
Normal Psig
53.0
Mop Psig
60.0
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
1982-04-29 00:00:00
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Gas Odorized System Type
Odorized By Others
Gas Odorized Level
9
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Notification From Emergency Responder
Investigation Status
No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate)
Investigation Status Details
Gas control did not have an impact on this incident.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Other Incident Cause
Cause Details
Unknown
Other Type
Unknown
Unknown Subtype
Still Under Investigation, Cause Of Incident To Be Determined* (*supplemental Report Required)
Preparer Name
J*** T*****
Preparer Title
Manager Dimp Leak Survey
Preparer Email
J******@u**.com
Preparer Telephone
717-675-4606
Authorizer Name
P** J*****
Authorizer Title
Vp Ehs And Technical Support
Authorizer Telephone
484-824-5508
Authorizer Email
P******@u**.com
Narrative
Pursuant to the ntsb's feb 22, 2024 factual record publication in its west reading investigation (id pld23lr002), ugi hereby provides a supplemental update to this incident report. A supplemental report will be filed when a cause has been determined and the ntsb issues its final report on the matter. On friday, march 24, 2023, at 4:55 p.M. Eastern standard time, a natural gas-fueled explosion and fire occurred at r. M. Palmer company (palmer) candy factory building 2 at 17 south 2nd avenue in west reading, pennsylvania. Seven employees were killed and 11 people were injured. Ugi first responders began arriving onsite at 5:19 p.M and isolated the distribution system supplying natural gas to the area by 6:15 p.M. Mechanical and visual examination indicated that natural gas was leaking from a dupont aldyl a service tee that was installed in 1982. Ugi exposed and retired the service line that was connected to this service tee in 2021 when the natural gas meter was relocated from the basement to the exterior of building 2. Palmer owned subsurface infrastructure ran underneath the public right of way along cherry street, between palmer buildings 1 and 2 and included a steam, condensate, and several heated chocolate pipelines. The palmer steam pipe was located approximately 23.4 inches to the west and 15.5 inches above the 1982 retired tee (center of pipe to top of tee). The steam pipe laid perpendicular to the gas main, with steam flowing from 77 s. 2nd ave to 17 s. 2nd ave (from south to north). The steam line was found to be deformed, corroded, and cracked along its east side. The steam line crack was measured to be approximately 5-inches by 2-inches at the 3 o'clock position on the steam pipe. A palmer mechanic indicated that on the day before the accident, a chocolate unloader entered the maintenance shop around 6:00 pm and told the mechanic that he smelled gas around the mechanic's car. Several employees working the second shift in building 1 reported that they smelled gas on the day of accident. One employee reported that she smelled gas as early as 2:58 p.M., and at 4 p.M. Three employees reported the odor to the second shift supervisor between 4:20-4:46 p.M. Some of the employees reported that they did not feel they could evacuate for fear of losing their job. No evacuation order was given by palmer management for buildings 1 and 2 prior to the explosion. Ugi states that no call was made to them regarding the smell of gas odorant on the day before or day of the accident. Part a.7 does not include estimated gas released unintentionally prior to ignition as ugi has no basis to estimate gas loss prior to ignition as the starting time of this leak has not been determined. Parts a.10 and a.22, have not changed since initial reporting. Ugi will amend this section in its final and supplement report pursuant to the release of the ntsb's final report on this matter. Part a.21.C was estimated based upon a service tap diameter of 0.807 inches to estimate gas consumed by the subsequent fire.
| Report Received Date | 2023-04-23 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023.0 |
| Report Number | 20230022.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 39369.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental |
| Operator Id | 20010 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Ugi Utilities, Inc |
| Operator Street Address | 1 Ugi Drive |
| Operator City Name | Denver |
| Operator State Abbreviation | PA |
| Operator Postal Code | 17517.0 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Street Address | 17 S 2nd Avenue |
| Location City Name | West Reading |
| Location County Name | Berks |
| Location State Abbreviation | PA |
| Location Postal Code | 19611.0 |
| Location Latitude | 40.334434 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -75.942206 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Main Valve Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1363061.0 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1363191.0 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 83.0 |
| Intentional Release | 0.09 |
| Fatality Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Contr Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Er Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Worker Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Gp Fatalities | 7 |
| Fatal | 7 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 3 |
| Injure | 3 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| How Extinguished | Local/state/federal Emergency Responder |
| Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf | 83 |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 35.0 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Other |
| System Part Details | Service Tapping Tee |
| Installation Year | 1982.0 |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Wt Plastic Unknown Ind | Unknown |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 2306 |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| 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 | Costs For Items 2a-2d Are Still Being Determined. |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 2.11 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 175.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 175.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 14.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 4.0 |
| Residences Affected | 11.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 7.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 18.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 7.0 |
| Accident Psig | 53.0 |
| Normal Psig | 53.0 |
| Mop Psig | 60.0 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1982-04-29 00:00:00 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Gas Odorized System Type | Odorized By Others |
| Gas Odorized Level | 9 |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Emergency Responder |
| Investigation Status | No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate) |
| Investigation Status Details | Gas control did not have an impact on this incident. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Other Incident Cause |
| Cause Details | Unknown |
| Other Type | Unknown |
| Unknown Subtype | Still Under Investigation, Cause Of Incident To Be Determined* (*supplemental Report Required) |
| Preparer Name | J*** T***** |
| Preparer Title | Manager Dimp Leak Survey |
| Preparer Email | J******@u**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 717-675-4606 |
| Authorizer Name | P** J***** |
| Authorizer Title | Vp Ehs And Technical Support |
| Authorizer Telephone | 484-824-5508 |
| Authorizer Email | P******@u**.com |
| Narrative | Pursuant to the ntsb's feb 22, 2024 factual record publication in its west reading investigation (id pld23lr002), ugi hereby provides a supplemental update to this incident report. A supplemental report will be filed when a cause has been determined and the ntsb issues its final report on the matter. On friday, march 24, 2023, at 4:55 p.M. Eastern standard time, a natural gas-fueled explosion and fire occurred at r. M. Palmer company (palmer) candy factory building 2 at 17 south 2nd avenue in west reading, pennsylvania. Seven employees were killed and 11 people were injured. Ugi first responders began arriving onsite at 5:19 p.M and isolated the distribution system supplying natural gas to the area by 6:15 p.M. Mechanical and visual examination indicated that natural gas was leaking from a dupont aldyl a service tee that was installed in 1982. Ugi exposed and retired the service line that was connected to this service tee in 2021 when the natural gas meter was relocated from the basement to the exterior of building 2. Palmer owned subsurface infrastructure ran underneath the public right of way along cherry street, between palmer buildings 1 and 2 and included a steam, condensate, and several heated chocolate pipelines. The palmer steam pipe was located approximately 23.4 inches to the west and 15.5 inches above the 1982 retired tee (center of pipe to top of tee). The steam pipe laid perpendicular to the gas main, with steam flowing from 77 s. 2nd ave to 17 s. 2nd ave (from south to north). The steam line was found to be deformed, corroded, and cracked along its east side. The steam line crack was measured to be approximately 5-inches by 2-inches at the 3 o'clock position on the steam pipe. A palmer mechanic indicated that on the day before the accident, a chocolate unloader entered the maintenance shop around 6:00 pm and told the mechanic that he smelled gas around the mechanic's car. Several employees working the second shift in building 1 reported that they smelled gas on the day of accident. One employee reported that she smelled gas as early as 2:58 p.M., and at 4 p.M. Three employees reported the odor to the second shift supervisor between 4:20-4:46 p.M. Some of the employees reported that they did not feel they could evacuate for fear of losing their job. No evacuation order was given by palmer management for buildings 1 and 2 prior to the explosion. Ugi states that no call was made to them regarding the smell of gas odorant on the day before or day of the accident. Part a.7 does not include estimated gas released unintentionally prior to ignition as ugi has no basis to estimate gas loss prior to ignition as the starting time of this leak has not been determined. Parts a.10 and a.22, have not changed since initial reporting. Ugi will amend this section in its final and supplement report pursuant to the release of the ntsb's final report on this matter. Part a.21.C was estimated based upon a service tap diameter of 0.807 inches to estimate gas consumed by the subsequent fire. |
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