AMERIGAS PROPANE LP

Incident Narrative

EXCAVATION CONTRACTOR REPORTED THE INTENT TO EXCAVATE THROUGH THE STATE ONE CALL REPORTING SYSTEM. AMERIGAS MANAGER INFORMED THE EXCAVATION CONTRACTOR THAT AMERIGAS UTILITIES WERE IN THE AREA OF THE PROPOSED EXCAVATION BUT EXACT MARKING OF THE UTILITY WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO LACK OF TRACER WIRE. AMERIGAS MANAGER ALSO STATED AN UNDERSTANDING, BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIENCE THAT CONTRACTOR'S EXCAVATORS DID NOT GO VERY DEEP AND ALERTED CONTRACTOR THAT LINES SHOULD BE BURIED APPROXIMATELY 12"". NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION WAS RECEIVED FROM EXCAVATION CONTRACTOR FOLLOWING REPORT OF UTILITY PRESENCE. EXCAVATING CONTRACTOR APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN OPERATING A TRENCHER AT A DEPTH OF APPROXIMATELY 12+ "" IN THE AREA AND WITHIN INCHES OF MARKED UTILITIES. TRENCHER CHAIN APPEARS TO HAVE STRUCK THE FAR SIDE OF THE AMERIGAS PLASTIC PIPELINE AND PULLED IT UPWARD TEARING THE PIPE. EXCAVATING CONTRACTOR WAS BURNED AND GROUND TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER WAS NOT REQUIRED SINCE THERE WAS NO IN-PATIENT HOSPITALIZATION.