Inspection Detail

Inspection: 302098041 - Pate & Pate Enterprises, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Corpus Christi Area Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 was operating a Caterpillar motor grader, model 140-G, to rework the road surface after some water line work. The vehicle's blade struck an 8 in. natural gas pipeline, which was situated just 2 3/4 in. below the ground surface. The released stream of gas ignited immediately. Employee #1 was stepping out onto the grader blade to escape the vehicle when he stumbled and fell into the large deflected fire. He was immediately engulfed in flames and was killed. Subsequent investigation showed that the employer had consulted the pipeline owner/operator prior to grading, and that the gas pipeline normally ran at a depth of 4 ft. However, the pipeline had sloped upward to the shallow depth and had veered off at this section from its mapped path.

Keywords: BURN, EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, FIRE, STRUCK AGAINST, CONSTRUCTION, NATURAL GAS, ROAD GRADER, RUPTURE, EXPLOSION, PIPELINE