ATLANTA GAS LIGHT CO

Incident Narrative

"ON NOVEMBER 12, 2024, AGL CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES (SEC) WERE WORKING TO ISOLATE AND RETIRE APPROXIMATELY 1,340 FEET OF 4-INCH STEEL MAIN ALONG HIGHWAY 78, FROM N CRESTVIEW DRIVE SW TO SUMMIT CHASE DRIVE SW NEAR GRAYSON, GA IN GWINNETT COUNTY. THE OPERATION INVOLVED A CROSS-COMPRESSION ACTIVITY TO REMOVE THE NATURAL GAS FROM THE ISOLATED SECTION OF THE MAIN AND INJECT IT BACK INTO THE ACTIVE SYSTEM. AFTER COMPLETING THIS CROSS-COMPRESSION ACTIVITY, A VENTURI WAS SET UP TO REMOVE ANY REMAINING RESIDUAL GAS FROM THE RETIRED SECTION OF THE MAIN BEFORE SEALING AND CAPPING THE ENDS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED A MISCOMMUNICATION AMONG THE CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES REGARDING THE COMPLETION AND CONFIRMATION OF THE REMOVAL OF THE RESIDUAL GAS. THIS MISCOMMUNICATION OCCURRED BEFORE THE WELDER AND HIS HELPER ENTERED THE EXCAVATION TO PERFORM WELDING OPERATIONS. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES INTO THE WELDING PROCESS OF INSTALLING A WELD-OVER ON THE CONTROL FITTING USED TO ISOLATE THE MAIN, A FLASH FIRE IGNITED DUE TO THE REMAINING RESIDUAL GAS IN THE RETIRED SECTION OF THE MAIN. BOTH CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES WERE WEARING THEIR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE); HOWEVER, THE HELPER HAD REMOVED HIS GLOVES AND HELMET TO DRINK SOME WATER WHEN THE FLASH FIRE OCCURRED, RESULTING IN BURNS TO HIS FACE AND HANDS. BOTH CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES WERE TAKEN TO SEPARATE HOSPITALS. ONE CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED, WHILE THE OTHER WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL THE FOLLOWING MORNING. AT THAT POINT, AGL NOTIFIED THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER (NRC) UNDER NRC REPORT NUMBER 1416254. AN ADDITIONAL NRC REPORT NUMBER 1416456 WAS CREATED FOR THE SAME EVENT FOLLOWING A SUPPLEMENTAL CALL TO THE NRC TO UPDATE THE INITIAL TELEPHONIC NOTICE."