An NTSB report on the fatal Pennsylvania explosion at the Palmer Chocolate factory highlights inadequate underground utility safety. It recommends CGA Best Practice 3-26 on 811 center membership to prevent similar accidents. The tragedy underscores the need for comprehensive participation in 811 process.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its final report on the 2023 explosion at the Palmer Chocolate factory.
The incident claimed seven lives at the Pennsylvania facility, in part due to inadequate locating of high-pressure steam and natural gas utility lines. Common Ground Alliance (CGA) President, CEO and Damage Prevention Action Center (DPAC) Executive Director Sarah K. Magruder Lyle issued the following statement on the report:
"The long-awaited recommendations stemming from this catastrophic incident bring to light the dangers of not prioritizing underground utility line safety," said Magruder. "This tragic incident is a reminder that everyone dealing with the transport of hazardous materials underground must work together to avoid another disaster. By recommending the widespread adoption of Common Ground Alliance Best Practice 3-26 on 811 center membership, the NTSB has affirmed the importance of improving damage prevention awareness and closing gaps in participation in the 811-before-you-dig process. In remembering the victims and their families, we hope that through common-sense best practices and comprehensive participation in the 811 process, lives and property will be saved."
On March 24, 2023, an explosion destroyed a portion of the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory, killing seven workers and injuring 10 others. The incident caused $42 million in property damage and numerous nearby buildings were damaged, destroyed or condemned.
Issues that contributed to the explosion included corroded underground steam pipes near natural gas lines, and a critical gas shutoff valve that had been paved over due to improper utility marking, according to the Associated Press.
The NTSB — the federal agency charged with regulating the transport of hazardous materials — conducted an extensive investigation that identified numerous safety issues. These included the risk of unmarked private assets (such as Palmer Chocolate's private steam line) in public rights-of-way (near a public natural gas utility line); ineffective federal standards for public awareness programs; and ineffective federal regulations of gas emergency procedures.
Under Pennsylvania state law, Palmer Chocolate was exempted from participating in Pennsylvania One Call — the state's 811 contact process. The company's private pipelines would not have been registered with the state 811 database. In every U.S. state, contractors and homeowners are either required (unless exempted) or encouraged to contact 811 before digging into the ground, to avoid damaging buried utility lines.
The NTSB report found that nationwide adoption of CGA's best practices can increase awareness and prevent similar accidents.
"Broad nationwide adoption of the Common Ground Alliance's recommended Best Practice 3-26 on 811 center membership can help prevent accidents similar to this one by increasing awareness of underground private assets, like some steam pipes, that cross public rights-of-way," the NTSB said.
The report also found that had Palmer Chocolate participated in the 811 process, the risk of damage may have been reduced.
"Also we recommended that Pennsylvania modify its law on underground utility protection to require all owners and operators of pipelines transporting steam or other high-temperature materials located in public rights-of-way to register their assets with Pennsylvania One Call and that the Common Ground Alliance identify opportunities for improving adoption of its best practices on 811 center membership," the NTSB said.
The report issued formal recommendations based on Common Ground Alliance best practices, including:
• Nationwide adoption of CGA best practices on 811 center participation to increase awareness of underground utilities
• Anyone who transports product underground to customers, or for internal use, crossing rights-of-way or utility easements, should be required to participate in the 811 process
• Including steam pipelines alongside other transported potentially dangerous materials
• A uniform pavement marking color code for locating underground utilities, including steam pipes
In an e-mail statement to Construction Equipment Guide, R.M. Palmer stated, "We are currently reviewing the NTSB's report. Not a day goes by that we do not remember and reflect on the heartbreaking loss of several colleagues and friends on that tragic day. We continue to mourn this loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this tragedy. R.M. Palmer takes the health, safety and wellness of our employees very seriously and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of our employees and will proactively work with regulators to prevent any similar tragedy in the future."
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