Utility worker pierced pipe before Mass. gas blast

[aandegoons]

16. It is not necessarily blaming this worker.

The markings on the sidewalk were likely from an old dig safe or locate. The worker likely can not push the detector through the side walk so I assume they did it in the grassy area and thought he was a safe distance away from the line in order not to damage it.

The error may be in using the old locate markings. I don't know what the process is for emergency locates in Mass. or company policy. In NY you can not use old locates or dig safes.

I am an utility worker and use the dig safe system in NY daily and they can be wrong at times. Like Freshwest I have dug through a gas line several times over the years.