PECO ENERGY CO
gas_distribution Incident — NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA — April 26, 2010
Incident Information
| Incident Date | April 26, 2010 |
| Operator | PECO ENERGY CO |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | NEWTOWN SQUARE |
| State | PA |
| County | DELAWARE |
| Coordinates | 39.99159, -75.38002 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE BY THIRD PARTY |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 1 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $3,440 |
| Emergency Response | $910 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"AQUA AMERICA'S CONTRACT CREW, DANELLA, STRUCK A GAS SERVICE ON APRIL 26, 2010 WHEN INSTALLING A WATER SERVICE LINE. THE CREW DAMAGED THE GAS SERVICE WHEN IT DUG UP THE GROUND FOR INSTALLATION PURPOSES. AT 11:30AM, DANELLA'S CONTRACT FOREMAN LEADING THE CONTRACT CREW, DECIDED TO ATTEMPT TO STEM THE FLOW OF GAS. THE FOREMAN, WHO LACKED THE REQUISITE TRAINING TO PERFORM SUCH A TASK, DID SO WITHOUT PECO'S KNOWLEDGE OR AUTHORIZATION AND WITHOUT THE PROPER EQUIPMENT. ACCORDING TO THE DANELLA CREW, THE CONTRACT FOREMAN BECAME EXPOSED TO GAS AND TEMPORARILY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. HE REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AS A PRECAUTION. AT 12:15 AM, A PECO CREW ARRIVED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED FACILITY AND THE CONTRACT FOREMAN HAD ALREADY LEFT THE SITE. ALTHOUGH THE CONTRACT FOREMAN STAYED OVERNIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL FOR MONITORING, PECO WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE HOSPITALIZATION UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, APRIL 27, 2010. PECO NOTIFIED THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION, GAS SAFETY DIVISION, OF THE HOSPITALIZATION WITHIN TWO HOURS AFTER IT BECAME AWARE OF THE HOSPITALIZATION."
About This Pipeline Incident
Pipeline incident data is reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). All significant incidents involving fatalities, injuries, or property damage over $50,000 must be reported.