ATLANTA GAS LIGHT CO

Incident Narrative

ON APRIL 15, 2024, AN AGL EMPLOYEE WAS DISPATCHED IN RESPONSE TO AN OUTSIDE ODOR COMPLAINT AT 2175 SAVANNAH HIGHWAY, JESUP, GA ('PREMISE'). ACCORDING TO THE HOMEOWNER, THE EMPLOYEE DETERMINED THAT THE 3/4' PLUG ON THE OUTLET OF THE SERVICE RISER VALVE WAS LEAKING ABOVE GROUND. UPON INFORMATION AND BELIEF, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO METER AT THIS PREMISE, THE EMPLOYEE PLANNED TO ELIMINATE THE ABOVE-GROUND LEAK BY SQUEEZING, CUTTING AND CAPPING THE RISER PIPING BELOW GROUND. AT APPROXIMATELY 17:05-17:10 HOURS, THE HOMEOWNER FOUND THE EMPLOYEE UNRESPONSIVE AND CALLED 911. ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF JESUP FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE EMPLOYEE WAS FOUND LYING ON THE GROUND WITH HIS UPPER BODY IN THE EXCAVATION HOLE THAT HE HAD PRESUMEDLY DUG AND GAS BLOWING IN THE HOLE. WAYNE COUNTY EMS TRANSPORTED THE EMPLOYEE TO WAYNE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, WHERE THE EMPLOYEE WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED. AN AUTOPSY LATER DETERMINED THAT DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL, AND THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS 'VITIATED ATMOSPHERE OF NATURAL GAS'. AGL WAS CONTACTED BY 911 AT 17:23 HOURS AND DISPATCHED ADDITIONAL AGL PERSONNEL TO THE PREMISES. UPON THEIR ARRIVAL, AGL PERSONNEL FOUND THAT THE EMPLOYEE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND A HOLE MEASURING APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET DEEP AND 14 INCHES BY 16 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND GAS BLOWING FROM A CUT TO THE BELOW-GROUND POLYETHYLENE (PE) PORTION (PIGTAIL) OF THE RISER. AGL PERSONNEL EXCAVATED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET FROM THE BLOWING GAS AND SQUEEZED OFF THE SERVICE LINE TO STOP THE LEAK. THE COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED AFTER THE EMPLOYEE SQUEEZED AND CUT THE POLYETHYLENE (PE) PORTION (PIGTAIL) OF THE RISER THAT LED TO HIS DEATH, BUT AT SOME POINT, THE SQUEEZERS CAME OFF THE POLYETHYLENE (PE) PIPING (THE EMPLOYEE'S SQUEEZERS WERE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EXCAVATION), RESULTING IN BLOWING GAS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE SQUEEZERS ACCIDENTALLY CAME OFF, THOUGH THE COMPANY HAS NO INDICATION THAT THE SQUEEZERS FAILED. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THE EMPLOYEE LOOSENED THE SQUEEZERS TO ADJUST THEIR LOCATION. POST-INCIDENT, THE COMPANY DETERMINED THAT THE AMOUNT OF POLYETHYLENE (PE) PIPING BETWEEN THE SQUEEZE POINT AND THE CUT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO INSTALL A STAB FITTING. THE COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW WHETHER THE EMPLOYEE WAS IN THE HOLE WHEN THE GAS STARTED BLOWING OR IF HE CHOSE TO ENTER THE HOLE KNOWING THERE WAS BLOWING GAS. THE SERVICE LINE WAS OPERATING AT A PRESSURE OF 55 PSIG. AGL INITIALLY NOTIFIED THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER (NRC) UNDER NRC REPORT NUMBER 1396518. ADDITIONAL NRC REPORT NUMBER 1396669 WAS CREATED FOR THE SAME EVENT AFTER A SUPPLEMENTAL CALL WAS PLACED WITH THE NRC TO UPDATE THE INITIAL TELEPHONIC NOTICE.