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Accident: 200210771 - Employee Killed After Gas Line Explodes When Struck

Accident: 200210771 -- Report ID: 0626000 -- Event Date: 11/30/2000
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
30368234812/01/20001623Valley Telephone Cooperative Inc.
On November 30, 2000, Employee #1 was operating a Rock Wheel attached to front-end loader Number 760. The employee was tasked with digging with the Rock Wheel to a depth of two feet. The Rock Wheel struck a 20-inch (outside diameter) by 0.25-in. thick utility pipe about 20 inches below the surface. The gas line exploded with a massive force blowing the operator more than 200 feet from the point of impact. Employee #1 was killed. The investigation revealed that the employer had attempted to have the company that had installed the gas pipeline identify where the gas line was located. The employer began digging cautiously before the accident and before the pipeline was located.
Keywords: excavation, front end loader, telecom work, machinist, work rules, construction, natural gas, explosion, struck by, untrained
End Use Proj Type Proj Cost Stories NonBldgHt Fatality
Powerline, transmission line New project or new addition Under $50,000 X
Employee # Inspection Age Sex Degree Nature Occupation Construction
1 303682348 Fatality Other Grader, dozer and scraper operators FallDist:
FallHt:
Cause: Site grading and rock removal
FatCause: Fire/explosion

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