SOUTHWEST GAS CORP

Incident Narrative

ON MARCH 6, 2014, A TEAM FISHEL EMPLOYEE BORED INTO A SIXTEEN-INCH STEEL HIGH-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION GAS MAIN WHILE INSTALLING A FIBEROPTIC LINE IN THE INTERSECTION OF BONNEVILLE AVENUE AND GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. TEAM FISHEL HAD A VALID DIG TICKET AND SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION'S CONTRACT LINE LOCATOR HAD LOCATED THE LINE. AS PART OF THE LINE LOCATE PROCESS, TEAM FISHEL WAS INFORMED THAT A HIGH-PRESSURE STANDBY WOULD BE REQUIRED DURING THE BORING OPERATION. TEAM FISHEL FAILED TO MEET WITH THE SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION REPRESENTATIVE AS IT HAD REQUESTED (NRS 455.110(B)(1), SEE ALSO NAC 455.145(1)(B)(3)); FAILED TO EXPOSE THE FACILITY BEFORE COMMENCING BORING OPERATIONS (NRS 455.137(1) & NAC 455.150(2)); AND FAILED TO NOTIFY SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WHEN THEY REALIZED THAT THEY COULD NOT EXPOSE THE FACILITY (NRS 455.137(3); NAC 455.150(3)). NO DEATH OR INJURY RESULTED FROM THE INCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE INCIDENT INITIALLY DID NOT MEET PHMSA/DOT NOTIFICATION CRITERIA, ON MARCH 21, 2014, SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION ESTIMATED THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCIDENT WOULD LIKELY MEET THE CRITERIA, AND IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER. SUPPLEMENTAL: SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE 16-INCH PIPELINE WAS NOT MARKED CORRECTLY.