MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY

Incident Narrative

A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR (C & M PLUMBING LLC) INSTALLING A DRAIN LINE FROM A GARAGE TO A POND DAMAGED A 1/2 INCH PLASTIC NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINE (60 PSIG) WITH A MINI-EXCAVATOR. THE BLOWING GAS CAUGHT FIRE AND ONE CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE WAS INJURED FROM FIRE WITH 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO THE FACE AND ARMS. PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE SERVICE LINE AND CONTRACTOR EQUIPMENT. AN AMBULANCE RESPONDED TO THE SITE FOR THE CONTRACTOR AND HE WAS TAKEN THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE INJURED CONTRACTOR, CLINT MAHON, WAS ADMITTED. THE PLASTIC SERVICE WAS SQUEEZED OFF SHORTLY AFTER OPERATOR CREWS ARRIVED AND WAS RESTORED THAT AFTERNOON. LOCATES WERE NOT REQUESTED OR PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE INITIAL EXCAVATION BY C & M PLUMBING LLC. THE EXACT TIME THE CONTRACTOR HIT THE PLASTIC SERVICE LINE IS NOT KNOWN. THE LOCAL TIME OF THE INCIDENT IS SHOWN ON LINE 4 IN PART A AS 10:35 WHICH IS WHEN 911 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. AT 10:36, MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DAMAGED PIPE. AT 13:00, MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY DETERMINED THE INJURED PARTY WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL. MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY THEN PROMPTLY NOTIFIED THE IOWA UTILITIES BOARD AND THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER AT 13:26.