CONSUMERS ENERGY CO

Incident Narrative

ON OCTOBER 16, 2017, THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTOR HANKS PLUMBING AND HEATING WERE EXCAVATING NEAR 7433 LYNCH RD, OTTAWA LAKE, MI FOR WATER MAIN WORK. AT APPROXIMATELY 8:13 AM, THE CONTRACTOR STRUCK A CONSUMERS ENERGY 4"" PLASTIC MAIN, SEVERING THE LINE. APPROXIMATELY 112 MCF OF GAS WAS LOST, AND ONE CUSTOMER WAS AFFECTED. THE EXCAVATOR THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE MACHINE OPERATOR OBTAINED INJURIES TO HIS HANDS AND VISITED THE HOSPITAL FOR THOSE INJURIES. THE EMPLOYEE WAS DISCHARGED AND RETURNED TO WORK THE SAME DAY, AND THIS REPORT HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REMOVE ANY INJURIES. THE EXCAVATOR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. IN ADDITION TO THE EXCAVATOR, THE BUSINESS BUILDING HAD MELTING FIRE DAMAGE TO THE SIDING. CONSUMERS ENERGY REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET OF 4"" PLASTIC MEDIUM PRESSURE MAIN AND RETURNED THE ONE CUSTOMER LOST BACK TO SERVICE THE NEXT MORNING. THE SITE HAD BEEN MARKED FOR GAS ASSETS. A RETIRED MAIN WAS HAND-EXPOSED BY THE CONTRACTOR AND WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE ACTIVE MAIN, HOWEVER THE ACTIVE MAIN WAS PROPERLY MARKED AS SHOWN FROM A PRE-DIG PHOTO TAKEN OCTOBER 5. THE RETIRED MAIN THAT WAS HAND-EXPOSED WAS NOT MARKED.