Man injured in gas pipeline construction accident

A worker with a subcontractor on the Enstar Natural Gas pipeline project suffered a serious injury last Friday afternoon. The man had an injury to his leg and was taken to an Anchorage hospital for treatment, said Enstar spokesperson John Sims. 

While not life threatening, Sims said the injury was very serious.

“We consider every injury a serious thing,” Sims said. “We have a great safety record. It was disappointing. It’s dangerous work everyone does out there.”

Homer Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical technicians responded to the incident along the Sterling Highway near Greatland Street and in front of the ACS building. The man was taken to South Peninsula Hospital and eventually to Anchorage. 

Workers had been boring and digging a trench for an extension of the gas line along the highway, part of a $12 million project this summer to extend natural gas from the main Anchor Point to Homer trunk line.

After the accident, Sims said Enstar and its contractors held meetings with employees in the field to discuss the situation so that it hopefully doesn’t happen again.

Citing employee privacy, Sims declined to identify the man by name or give his age. Sims said Enstar expects that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to investigate the incident.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.