PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC & GAS CO

Incident Narrative

ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:30 PM A CREW WAS WORKING ON REPLACING A SCHEDULED 2-INCH BARE STEEL UTILIZATION PRESSURE SERVICE FROM MAIN TO CURB AT 341 MONTROSE AVENUE IN SOUTH ORANGE. A UTILITY MECHANIC WAS EXCAVATING WITH A LEAK (PRY) BAR TO UNCOVER THE SERVICE TEE AT THE MAIN IN ACCORDANCE TO THE CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS WHEN GAS LEAKING FROM A CORROSION HOLE IGNITED. A FLASH FIRE ENSUED CAUSING THE EMPLOYEE TO SUSTAIN BURNS TO HIS FACE AND BOTH ARMS. THE EMPLOYEE WAS NOT WEARING PROPER PPE WHILE WORKING IN A GASEOUS ATMOSPHERE. THE EMPLOYEE IS OQ QUALIFIED AND WAS RECENTLY OQ QUALIFIED ON JULY 12, 2012. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE STREET LEADER WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER THAT WAS AVAILABLE ALONGSIDE THE EXCAVATION. SUPERVISION WAS NOTIFIED AND ARRIVED TO THE SCENE AT 1:25 PM AND TRANSPORTED THE EMPLOYEE TO AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL FACILITY. AT 1:30 PM THE GAS SERVICE WAS MADE SAFE AND REPLACED BY A RELIEF CREW THAT WAS DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE. AFTER MULTIPLE ASSESSMENTS, DR. E. HANI MANSOUR DETERMINED THE EMPLOYEE HAD SUSTAINED SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS AND ADMITTED HIM FOR OBSERVATION AND TREATMENT. THE EMPLOYEE WAS DISCHARGED ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2012, AND HE IS RECEIVING THERAPY FOR HIS INJURIES.