WorkSafeBC says the contractor who ruptured a natural gas line on Friday in Langford didnB次元官网网址檛 follow a provincial regulation on how utility lines should be unearthed.
People were evacuated from their homes and a day care in the area of Lomalinda Drive and Happy Valley Road Friday morning after a FortisBC gas line was hit during work linked to a townhome development.
A WorkSafeBC investigation found the contractor, Joseph Brown Contracting Ltd., had partially exposed the gas line using a vacuum system, but part of the unexposed line slanted upward several feet.
Without the expected buffer of earth, an excavator soon struck and broke the shallow line, prompting the second evacuation of the area in two months.
A WorkSafeBC officer has ordered Joseph Brown Contracting to fully expose any utility lines before using heavy machinery to dig in the vicinity of the lines.
B次元官网网址�(The officer) issued an order that all utility lines need to be fully exposed before working or proceeding with powered equipment,B次元官网网址� said Megan Johnston with WorkSafeBC. B次元官网网址淣o matter how itB次元官网网址檚 done, be it hand digging or (vacuuming) ... lines need to be exposed. That is for all utilities.B次元官网网址�
Johnston said WorkSafeBC hasnB次元官网网址檛 levied any fines on the contractor, but officials will be following up at the work site.
The same contractor was cited for a Aug. 4 line break in the exact same area, which expelled natural gas for 2.5 hours.
A WorkSafeBC report noted in that case, the rupture endangered workers after the lower window of the excavator was broken due to debris shot by the escaping gas.
Langford engineering manager John Manson noted in FridayB次元官网网址檚 case the contractor did almost everything correct in terms of using a device to trace the horizontal path of underground utility pipes.
Maps provided to contractors donB次元官网网址檛 show elevation changes, Manson noted. B次元官网网址淭he maps arenB次元官网网址檛 detailed enough,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey donB次元官网网址檛 show vertical, only horizontal.B次元官网网址�
Langford evacuees were allowed back in their homes just before noon on Friday. The gas line ruptured just before 9 a.m.
ItB次元官网网址檚 the third gas line break in the same area in two months. The first smaller break on Aug. 2 caused only the evacuation of the day care, and was done by a different contractor than the following two incidents.
Dennis Dyck, who was evacuated from his home Friday and on Aug. 4 after the six-inch gasmain was ruptured, said he is losing his patience.
B次元官网网址淭he first time itB次元官网网址檚 an accident. The second time itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址榳hat are they thinking?B次元官网网址� The third time you have to wonder what the hell is going on,B次元官网网址� Dyck said while waiting to return to his home.
On Friday, natural gas wafted through the area for about two and a half hours before the line was shut down at 11:35 a.m. Similar to the Aug. 4 line break, FortisBC crews dug two holes on either side of the rupture to crimp off the line.
Tom Hayward and his family took shelter on a BC Transit bus brought in to house evacuees. It was his second evacuation, and he took it in stride.
B次元官网网址淕uys are working and things happen. IB次元官网网址檓 not upset,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hat can you do?B次元官网网址�
FortisBC spokesperson Marcus Wong said the company stands by the accuracy of its gas line maps.
Contractors need to call B次元官网网址淏C OneCallB次元官网网址� service to obtain maps for any underground utility, he said, and any contractor should hand dig until they find the utility line.
Kim Coy, owner of Sunshine Early Childhood Centre on Lomalinda Drive, said her staff is getting good at evacuating the 40 tots and babies.
They carry or walk the kids to the South Vancouver Island Rangers property on Luxton Road, and then bus the kids to a facility in Colwood, where parents can pick up their kids.
B次元官网网址淚n three minutes we are down the Galloping Goose and out of the area, even before the fire department gets there,B次元官网网址� Coy said. B次元官网网址淭he kids are calm, we walk the Goose all the time.
B次元官网网址淭he most stressful thing is having parents leave work early to pick up their kids. This is the third time due to gas leaks.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
