SPIRE MISSOURI INC. WEST

Incident Narrative

A COMPANY CONTRACTOR WAS ABANDONING A STEEL SERVICE LINE TO 1106 PASEO BOULEVARD, KANSAS CITY, MO. THE 2-INCH STEEL SERVICE LINE WAS CONNECTED TO A 3-INCH PLASTIC MAIN WITH A PLASTIC INLINE TEE AND A TRANSITION FITTING TO THE STEEL SERVICE. WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF ABANDONING THE STEEL SERVICE LINE, THE CREW MEMBER CUT THE PLASTIC PIPE BETWEEN THE OUTLET OF THE INLINE SERVICE TEE AND THE TRANSITION FITTING WITHOUT STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS. THE CREW MEMBER THEN ATTEMPTED TO CUT THE EXISTING STEEL SERVICE LINE WITH AN ELECTRIC RECIPROCATING SAW IN A LIVE GAS CONDITION. THE NATURAL GAS IGNITED INJURING TWO CREW MEMBERS. THE CREW MEMBERS DID NOT FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THE COMPANY STANDARD ""PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTAL IGNITION."" THE TWO CREW MEMBERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND ONE OF THE CREW MEMBERS REQUIRED INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION, THE OTHER WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. THE CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT VERBALLY REQUESTED THAT THE HOSPITAL PERFORM A DRUG AND ALCOHOL TEST FOR THE TWO CREW MEMBERS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. HOWEVER, THE HOSPITAL ONLY PERFORMED AN ALCOHOL TEST. NRC INCIDENT REPORT WAS UPDATED ON JULY 18, 2018 AT 10:12 A.M., REPORT NUMBER 1218726.