DTE GAS COMPANY
gas_distribution Incident — TAYLOR, MI — July 7, 2021
Incident Information
| Incident Date | July 7, 2021 |
| Operator | DTE GAS COMPANY |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | TAYLOR |
| State | MI |
| County | WAYNE |
| Coordinates | 42.20228, -83.26569 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE BY OPERATOR (FIRST PARTY) |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 1 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $1,800 |
| Emergency Response | $243 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 AM A GENERAL FITTER (GF) WAS EXCAVATING A 3/4-INCH STEEL GAS SERVICE LINE IN A CUSTOMER'S LAWN TO COMPLETE A SERVICE RENEWAL. DURING THE COURSE OF THE WORK ACTIVITIES, THE 3/4-INCH STEEL GAS SERVICE LINE WAS BROKEN AT THE 3/4-INCH OUTLET OF THE SERVICE TEE, AND A 240 VOLT ENERGIZED ELECTRIC CABLE SUPPLYING STREET LAMPS WAS SEVERED. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE SEVERED ELECTRICAL CABLES SERVED AS AN IGNITION SOURCE, IGNITING THE GAS WITHIN THE EXCAVATION. DURING THE RESULTING FIRE, THE GF SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE EXTENT THAT EMS RESPONDED AND TRANSPORTED THE EMPLOYEE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE ROOT CAUSE IS THAT GENERAL FITTER AND FITTER FAILED TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE AND HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE COMPANY. SPECIFICALLY, FAILURE TO FOLLOW DISTRIBUTION & TRANSMISSION PROCEDURE(D&TP) 1.1 ""PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL IGNITION"", D&TP1.6 ""ENERGY GAS EXCAVATION AND CONFINED SPACE ENTRY,"" AND D&TP 4.6 ""IDENTIFYING AND PROTECTING UNDERGROUND UTILITIES, CONDUITS, AND STRUCTURES."""
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.