DUKE ENERGY OHIO

Incident Narrative

"RLA INVESTMENTS, INC. IS PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS OF DUKE ENERGY OHIO'S SERVICE TERRITORY PURSUANT TO A CONTRACT WITH DUKE ENERGY OHIO. THE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES INVOLVE THE REPLACEMENT OF NATURAL GAS SERVICE RISERS IN CONNECTION WITH DUKE ENERGY OHIO'S RISER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. ON MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2010, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:08PM, CODY FAUL, AN EMPLOYEE OF RLA INVESTMENTS, WAS PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES AT 4044 ASHWOOD CT., WITHAMSVILLE, OH IN CLERMONT COUNTY. MR. FAUL, A MEMBER OF A TWO-MAN RISER CREW, WAS WORKING ALONE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT IS BELIEVED THAT MR. FAUL WAS PERFORMING A FULL GAS SERVICE RISER REPLACEMENT BY CONNECTING THE EXISTING GAS SERVICE PIPE TO THE NEW RISER USING A STAB CONNECTION FITTING PRIOR TO BEING DISCOVERED UNRESPONSIVE. MR. FAUL WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND PRONOUNCED DEAD ON ARRIVAL. THIS INCIDENT IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. NOTE: IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT ONLY A DRUG TEST WAS ADMINISTERED ON THE CREW LEADER (DAVID SMITH), NOT AN ALCOHOL TEST. AS OF 6-2-10, INCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, WAITING ON ACTUAL CAUSE OF DEATH REPORT FROM CORONER AND TOXICOLOGY REPORT. AS OF 6-30-10, THE DEATH OF CODY FAUL WAS RULED ACCIDENTAL AND THAT THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS ASPHYXIATION (DUE TO METHANE GAS EXPOSURE). ALSO, ACCORDING TO THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT, NO DRUGS WERE FOUND IN HIS SYSTEM."