CAIRO GAS SYSTEMS, CITY OF

Incident Narrative

ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2010, AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 HRS. THE CITY OF CAIRO GAS DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WERE AT THE INTERSECTION OF 4TH AVE & 4TH ST NW WHERE THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING A SECTION OF 2"" COATED AND WRAPPED STEEL GAS MAIN THAT WAS LEAKING DUE TO CORROSION. THE CREW HAD EARLIER DETECTED AND REPAIRED A LEAK IN THIS AREA CAUSED BY CORROSION. WHEN THE SECOND LEAK WAS DETECTED, THE GAS CREW DECIDED TO REPLACE THE SECTION OF PIPE INSTEAD OF MAKING A SECOND REPAIR IN THE SAME AREA. THE CREW EXCAVATED THE PIPE AND DECIDED THAT THE CORRECTIONS WOULD BE MADE WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE GAS SOURCE TO THE PIPE BEING REPLACED. AFTER CUTTING OUT APPROXIMATELY ELEVEN (11) FEET OF THE DAMAGED PIPE, THE CREW WAS ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL A PIECE OF 2"" PE 2406 PLASTIC USING TWO (2) DRESSER STYLE COUPLINGS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THE CONNECTION, THE GAS WAS IGNITED BY AN UNKNOWN SOURCE WHICH RESULTED IN 1 DEATH AND 3 INJURIES TO GAS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES. AFTER EMERGENCY CREWS RESPONDED TO THE SITE, THE GAS WAS TURNED OFF AND PERMANENT REPAIRS WERE MADE BY GAS PERSONNEL FROM A ""MUTUAL AID"" ASSISTANCE CITY THAT RESPONDED TO THE CALL FOR ASSISSTANCE.