OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14559082

HEAD,EXPLOSION,HIGH PRESSURE PIPE,NATURAL GAS,RUPTURE,PIPELINE

1984-12-28T00:00:00

Event: HEAD,EXPLOSION,HIGH PRESSURE PIPE,NATURAL GAS,RUPTURE,PIPELINE
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14559082
Report ID: 855610

Event description

NATURAL GAS PIPELINE RUPTURE

Investigation abstract

EMPLOYEES #1, #2 AND #3 WERE IN THE PROCESS OF CUTTING A 6 5/16 INCH INSIDE DIAM ETER NATURAL GAS PIPELINE. THE PIPELINE WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN DEPRESSURIZED BEFORE THE CUTTING OPERATION WAS BEGUN. THE PIPELINE'S NORMAL OPERATING PRESSURE RANGE IS 800-1000 PSI. WHEN THE LINE WAS CUT, THE PRESSURE WAS RELEASED WITH GR EAT FORCE. THE PIPE CUTTER WAS BROKEN INTO AT LEAST FOUR PIECES. ONE PIECE STRUC K EMPLOYEE #1 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREHEAD. HE WAS BLOWN FROM THE FIVE FOOT DEE P EXCAVATION AND LANDED APPROXIMATELY 110 FEET FROM THE PIPE CUT. EMPLOYEE #2 WA S BLOWN APPROXIMATELY 70 FEET FROM THE PIPE CUT. EMPLOYEE #3 WAS BLOWN APPROXIMA TLEY 15 FEET IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

Victims (5)

#1 Fatality Age 21 M

Nature of injury
12

Part of body
13

Event type
1

Source
22

Occupation code
869

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
5

Hazardous substance
8420

Task assigned
1
#2 Hospitalized Age 32 M

Nature of injury
3

Part of body
19

Event type
6

Source
19

Occupation code
585

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
15

Hazardous substance
8420

Task assigned
1
#3 Non-hospitalized injury Age 21 M

Nature of injury
20

Part of body
12

Event type
6

Source
19

Occupation code
869

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
15

Hazardous substance
8420

Task assigned
2
#981 Degree 0 Age 0

Nature of injury
0

Part of body
0

Event type
0

Source
0

Occupation code
0

Human factor
0

Environmental factor
0

Task assigned
0
#982 Degree 0 Age 0

Nature of injury
0

Part of body
0

Event type
0

Source
0

Occupation code
0

Human factor
0

Environmental factor
0

Task assigned
0

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