SPIRE MISSOURI INC. WEST

Incident Narrative

A COMPANY CONTRACTOR CREW WAS A PERFORMING A 12-INCH STEEL MAIN RELOCATION AND RETIRING A SECTION OF MAIN BETWEEN 2 STOPPLE FITTINGS. THE STOPPLES WERE IN POSITION TO SHUT OFF THE FLOW OF GAS AND THE PIPE HAD BEEN CUT BETWEEN THE STOPPLES AND BLOWN DOWN. THE CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE WAS PREPARING TO CAP DOWNSTREAM OF ONE STOPPLE. TWO VENT STACKS (V1 & V2) WERE INSTALLED DOWNSTREAM OF THE STOPPLE WITH A VALVE AND AIR HANDLER ON THE VENT NEAREST THE STOPPLE FITTING (V1). THE CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE INSERTED A GRIPPER PLUG IN THE 12-INCH MAIN UP TO THE V1 VENT STACK LOCATION. GAS WAS BLEEDING PAST THE STOPPLE FITTING. THE VALVE ON V1 VENT STACK WAS CLOSED. THIS RESULTED IN A PRESSURE BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE STOPPLE FITTING AND THE GRIPPER PLUG AND CAUSED THE GRIPPER PLUG TO BE EJECTED FROM THE OPEN-CUT END OF THE 12-INCH STEEL MAIN. THE GRIPPER PLUG CAUSED A HAND INJURY WITH THE CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE AND HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. A 48-HOUR UPDATE TO THE NRC WAS MADE ON OCTOBER 5, 2023 AT 18:49 - REPORT NUMBER 1380998. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT CREATED: PART E.1, ESTIMATED PRESSURE AT TIME OF INCIDENT UPDATED FROM 56.0 PSIG TO 125PSIG.