FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES CO

Incident Narrative

"AT APPROXIMATELY 15:50 ON TUESDAY, 2/24/2015, AN EMPLOYEE OF A CONTRACTOR PERFORMING AN INACTIVE SERVICE RETIREMENT FOR FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES WAS INJURED. THE WORKER USING A WHEELED PIPE CUTTER CUT INTO AN 1 1/4"" COATED STEEL SERVICE LINE WITH APPROXIMATELY 54 PSIG TO CAP THE SERVICE. THE ESCAPING GAS BLEW SAND AND SMALL PEBBLES IN THE EXCAVATED HOLE STRIKING THE WORKER AND CAUSING SEVERE INJURY TO HIS LEG AND HANDS. THE WORKER WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND UNDERWENT SURGERY FOR HIS INJURIES AND IS HOSPITALIZED AT THIS TIME (2/25/15). TECHNICIANS FROM FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES ARRIVED ON SCENE AT 16:15 AND PROCEEDED TO PERFORM A SQUEEZE OFF ON THE STEEL LINE. THE LINE WAS STOPPED AND CAPPED AT 16:58 ON 2/24/15. SUPPLEMENTAL AND FINAL - 12/5/2017 AFTER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PHMSA THRU THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES SUBMITS THIS CHANGE TO THIS REPORT REGARDING PART G. THE CAUSE WAS CHANGED FROM G-8, OTHER INCIDENT CAUSE, TO G-7, INCORRECT OPERATION. ALTHOUGH THE RELEASE OF GAS WAS EXPECTED, THE OUTCOME AND INJURY WERE NOT ANTICIPATED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OPERATOR'S PROCEDURE FOR ABANDONMENT OF GAS FACILITIES WAS NOT ROBUST ENOUGH TO COVER ALL SITUATIONS ENCOUNTERED IN THE FIELD. THE CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE ALSO DID NOT UTILIZE ADEQUATE PPE. THE OPERATOR REVISED IT'S PROCEDURE ON 8/25/15 AND REVIEWED THIS PROCEDURE WITH IT'S EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS. ALSO CHANGED IS PART C (2)(A) FROM UNKNOWN TO 1978. AN AS BUILT WITH THE DATE INSTALLED SHOW THE SERVICE WAS INSTALLED ON 2/17/1978."