Inspection Detail

Inspection: 646109 - Graves Estes Park Gas, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Denver Area Office

Investigation Summary

EMPLOYEE #1 HAD TAKEN THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL GARAGE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. HE DECIDED TO REPLACED SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE METER, SINCE IT WAS NOT READING PROPERLY. HE PARKED THE TRUCK OUTSIDE THE GARAGE. HE BLED BOTH THE HOSE AND THE SYSTEM BETWEEN THE BELLY VALVE AND METER. HE DID NOT, HOWEVER, CHECK THE INTERNAL (BELLY) VALVE TO ASSURE THAT IT WAS CLOSING PROPERLY. AN INVESTIGATATION CONDUCTED SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE INTERNAL VALVE HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND HAD NOT CLOSED. AS A RESULT, LP GAS CONTINUED TO BLEED INTO THE PIPING SYSTEM. WHEN THE DRIVER BEGAN TO LOOSEN THE METER AND FILTER/FLOAT CANNISTER, THE PRESSURE BEHIND THE EQUIPMENT EXPELLED THE LP GAS INTO THE ATMOSHERE. THE GAS, HEAVIER THAN AIR, FLOWED DOWN THE SLOPE INTO THE GARAGE. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 55 FEET INTO THE GARAGE THE GAS WAS IGNITED BY THE PILOT LIGHT OF A GAS WATER HEATER. THE RESULTANT FIRE ENGULFED THE DRIVER, WHO WAS STANDING NEAR HIS TRUCK. HE DIED THREE WEEKS LATER AS A RESULT OF THE BURNS SUSTAINED. ANOTHER DRIVER, WHO WAS WALKING DOWN THE HILL TO THE GARAGE, ALSO SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED.

Keywords: BURN, PILOT LIGHT, MAINTENANCE, FIRE, TRUCK, LP GAS, VALVE, GAS LEAK