Peoples Gas Workers Unprepared to Handle Emergency

As gas explosions set fire to 18 buildings in River West on Jan. 17, killing four people, Peoples Gas' supervisors, both at the scene and in the office, were paralyzed, waiting at least 30 minutes to turn off the gas, according to testimony before the National Transportation Safety Board on March 6.

At 1:20 p.m., a three-man Peoples Gas crew at Erie and Green Streets bypassed the pressure regulator while conducting routine maintenance.

At 3:45 p.m., as a Peoples Gas supervisor began to take the system off bypass, a tremendous gas surge burst pressure gauges. While sirens wailed, the supervisor left the bypass valve open and went to his car nearby to radio his superior.

What follows are excerpts from the testimony of the Peoples Gas supervisor, a 27-year veteran, who was working in River West that day.

Q: What was his response?

A: Well, I think he said to hold on a minute, we'll check-have the vault inspectors go over to Chicago and Carpenter.

Q: You have already identified an overpressure situation, and his comment to you was "Hold on a minute?"

A: Yes, until we could evaluate what was going on.

Q: How long was it before your management-once you told them, how long was it before you got an answer back from your management to shut the system down?

A: Maybe a half-hour to 45 minutes, somewhere in there.

Q: And during that period of time, were you aware that some buildings were on fire?

A: At the time, yes.

Q: Did it ever occur to you that by closing down that bypass line you might be able to alleviate that problem?

A: If I would have known, I would have shut it.

Q: Why do you believe you needed to get a hold of your supervisor?

A: Because of the fact we just don't normally shut a bypass off because we would be-normally you would be afraid to lose the system.

Q: If you made a wrong decision [to shut down a system without justification] which caused you to shut it, what about then?

A: Well then I would probably think that I would be on the carpet for it, yes.

Q: If you made the wrong decision, it would be a career problem?

A: I certainly probably would think that it would be, yes.

Q: Have you received training in recognizing hazardous conditions in the district systems, such as over pressure?

A: No, not really..

Q: Have you been instructed or received training on what to do should there be an overpressure condition in the district?

A: Just training? No.

Q: Have you received any written documentation-any written document or verbal instruction as to what your authority is to shut down a system if there is an emergency involved such as this overpressure?

A: No, sir