CARTERSVILLE GAS DEPT, CITY OF

Incident Narrative

ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, CREW FORMAN, WELDER 1, SERVICE WORKER A AND SERVICE WORKER B WERE RETIRING A SERVICE AT 13 COURRANT STREET. THE SERVICE WAS EXCAVATED BY THE CREW FORMAN. THE WELDER 1 (INJURED EMPLOYEE) ON THE CREW RETIRED THE SERVICE BY CUTTING THE SERVICE ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM THE TAPPING TEE WITH A SET OF FOUR WHEEL CUTTERS, AND THEN INSERTED A LEAK SCREW IN THE SERVICE, AND WELDED IT UP. AFTER WELDING THE LEAK SCREW IN, THEY CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND NO LEAKS WERE FOUND. WELDER 1 (INJURED EMPLOYEE) THEN BUFFED THE TEE AND MAIN OFF WITH A BUFFER TO PREPARE IT TO BE RE-COATED AND CHECKED FOR LEAKS A SECOND TIME. AFTER CHECKING FOR LEAKS AGAIN WELDER 1 (INJURED EMPLOYEE) FOUND A SMALL LEAK ON THE TAPPING TEE. WELDER 1 (INJURED EMPLOYEE) TRIED TO WELD THE LEAK UP BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER FAILING TO REPAIR THE LEAK ON THE TAPPING TEE THE CREW FORMAN INSTRUCTED WELDER 1 (INJURED EMPLOYEE) TO REMOVE THE TAPPING TEE AND INSTALL A LEAK SCREW IN THE MAIN TO ELIMINATE THE LEAK. WELDER 1 (INJURED EMPLOYEE) USED AN ELECTRIC BAND SAW TO CUT THE TEE OFF THE MAIN. WHILE CUTTING THE TEE OFF THE MAIN THE GAS IGNITED, AND WELDER 1 (INJURED EMPLOYEE) ESCAPED OUT OF THE HOLE WHILE RECEIVING BURNS TO HIS LEFT ARM, NECK, AND FACE. IN THE PRECONSTRUCTION MEETING, THE GAS DISTRIBUTION/CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT INSTRUCTED THE CREW FORMAN NOT TO USE THE ELECTRIC BAND SAW WHILE RETIRING THIS SERVICE. THE DISTRIBUTION/CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT TOLD THE CREW FORMAN THIS WHILE GIVING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. THE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SUPERVISOR WAS A WITNESS TO THIS CONVERSATION. AT 11:26AM THE CREW FORMAN CALLED THE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SUPERVISOR AND TOLD HIM THAT WELDER 1 THE INJURED EMPLOYEE HAD RECEIVED BURNS AND THE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SUPERVISOR ARRIVED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES, AND TOOK WELDER 1 (INJURED EMPLOYEE) TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. SERVICE WORKER A CALLED WELDER 2 WHO ARRIVED WITH IN TWENTY MINUTES TO THE JOB SITE. WELDER 2 INSTALLED AND WELDED A LEAK SCREW IN THE MAIN TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS. GAS WAS RELEASED FOR NO MORE THAN TWENTY MINUTES. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:05PM IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INJURED EMPLOYEE WOULD NEED HOSPITALIZATION AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO GRADY HOSPITAL IN ATLANTA AROUND 1:30PM. THE INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS HOSPITALIZED, NO PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND NO EVACUATIONS. THE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SUPERVISOR CONTACTED CHRIS SWAN WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AT 12:39PM AS PER COMMISSION RULE. THE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SUPERVISOR CONTACTED THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER AT 1:50PM AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT. THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER GAVE THE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SUPERVISOR A CONFIRMATION NUMBER OF: 1129766. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION INSPECTOR LYNN BUFFINGTON ARRIVED AT OUR OFFICE AT 2:20PM TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT. THE CREW WAS WORKING ON A .75 INCH STEEL SERVICE ATTACHED TO A 2 INCH STEEL MAIN WITH AN OPERATING PRESSURE OF 30 PSIG. NO CUSTOMERS WERE AFFECTED.